Stevenson group tackles school funding equality
When Jed Stone visited his brother's economics class at Duke University last year, he listened as the teacher and students discussed the lack of funding equality among schools.
That visit eventually inspired Stone to help take on that lack of equality by forming a group called Edufund at Stevenson High School.
“We're considered a club at Stevenson, but aside from that, we're a nonprofit organization,” said Stone, 17, a junior. “We're off to a good start.”
The goal of Edufund, Stone said, is to connect business and individual donors with underprivileged schools, primarily in the Chicago area.
He started the group at Stevenson in January after securing the necessary permission from the Lincolnshire school. Edufund started with about 50 people and now has a solid 35 students serving on four committees.
One of those four committees is dedicated to raising the money that will eventually go to the underprivileged schools. Edufund sells pizza Tuesdays after school, which brings in about $1 per slice. Stone said the group sells about 10 pizzas each week.
“Kids seem to want pizza after school,” he said.
The group's most popular fundraiser to date, however, was its “shamrock shake” sale. McDonald's donated 200 shamrock shakes to Edufund, which sold the shakes for $3 each over a two-day period.
The first 100 shakes sold out within 25 minutes the first day, while the second 100 shakes were gone within 35 minutes the next day.
“It was very successful,” Stone said.
So far, Edufund has raised $1,300 in six weeks. Stone said a couple more fundraisers are coming up, including a benefit concert Saturday, May 21, at Stevenson and a golf outing in June. The concert, which will feature five student bands, will result in half of the proceeds going to Edufund and the other half going to Uganda.
“Our group alone could bring in about $1,000,” Stone said.
Where all of that money will go is still being decided. Another Edufund committee has been charged with seeking out schools that need help.
Stone said the website for the movie “Waiting for Superman” has a school rating system that details how much money is spent per pupil at various schools.
He said while Stevenson spends about $14,000 per student, Waukegan Unit District 60 spends just $8,000 per pupil. The state average is $9,000 per student.
“We don't want to have a society of mediocre schools,” he said.
Edufund is now in contact with nine schools, including a couple in Waukegan. Stone said school leaders are asked to fill out a form that details how they want to use the money.
“We're giving them the money, but they're signing on for ‘We're buying it for this purpose,'” Stone said.
Some of the items these school leaders want to purchase are textbooks and basketballs. They also want funds for after-school activities.
Edufund's other two committees are dedicated to seeking donations from local businesses and setting up a website that will make it easier for people to donate to the group. Stone said Deerfield High School plans to start an Edufund group next year, and its sole focus will be raising money.
Checks for Edufund can be sent to Stevenson High School, Attn: Student Activities, Edufund, One Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire.