New foundation aims to help U-46 schools

A new nonprofit educational foundation aims to support Elgin Area School District U-46 in ways state and federal funding cannot.

The U-46 Educational Foundation, two years in the making, was announced Wednesday evening at a reception at the Elgin Country Club.

Foundation President Sue Rakow of Elgin introduced a 16-member board, composed of 13 local volunteers, U-46 school board members Ken Kaczynski and Donna Smith and Superintendent Jose Torres.

The foundation, Rakow said, will support comprehensive projects that benefit the district as a whole.

Board members have identified five primary areas of interest - academic enrichment, professional development, the arts, cultural enrichment and technology advancement, Rakow said.

Donations will be used to establish artist-in-residence programs, to bring in outside speakers and establish programs that work at sharing multicultural experiences. Foundation board member the Rev. Nathaniel Edmond, pastor of Elgin's Second Baptist Church, expressed hopes that the foundation would bring the district's five high schools together.

"Certainly they're competitors at sporting events - but to bring in the understanding that every child can achieve whether they're at Barlett, Streamwood, Elgin, that they're part of a collective whole, that's energizing," Edmond said.

Because of the foundation's 501 (c)(3) status, donors have the ability to request that their funds be designated for a specific purpose.

Initially, foundation Treasurer Craig Ochoa said, the foundation will not seek proposals or have a grant application process. In the future, he said, with more resources and staff, that process will change.

Visit www. u-46.org/foundation or call (847) 888-5000, ext. 5339.