Celebrate making a difference for district kids at wine tasting Oct. 8
The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Learning Disabilities Association will kick off its 2015-16 "Make A Difference" grant season with a wine tasting event from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at Re-invent Gallery in Lake Forest.
The event will feature award-winning wines from Washington and California. Guests will also take home a bottle of wine with an exclusive label created for the event by Lake Forest artist Mark McMahon.
The annual LDA grants program provides a wide variety of classroom support benefiting children with learning differences of any kind. Recent grants include standing desks, ergonomic and ball chairs, sensory tools, Kindles and Chrome Books, social skills programs and reading/writing software. The LDA also contributed to the DPM East Spirit of 67 climbing wall grant.
Each fall the LDA sends grant applications to teachers in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff districts 65, 67, 115 and the School of St. Mary. After several rounds of application reviews, grants are awarded just before winter break. Teachers apply for items that will help their students with specific learning difficulties, but often the tools prove useful for students of all abilities.
"LDA gives educators the unique opportunity to request and acquire a variety of equipment and materials to fully engage all students in classroom learning," Deerpath Middle School social worker Jackie Pangilinan said. "Feedback from teachers and students alike indicate that all students enjoy and benefit from the generosity of these grants."
The LDA is a parent-driven, nonprofit organization that has been a liaison between schools and the community for the past 25 years. In addition to the annual "Make a Difference" grant campaign, the LDA provides support, speaker presentations, networking and resources for parents of children with a wide variety of learning difficulties. Since 2005, the LDA has awarded nearly $300,000 in "Make a Difference" grants.
Tickets to the Re-invent wine tasting event are $50 per person and $75 per couple and may be purchased at www.lflblda.com. Re-invent Gallery is at 202 E. Wisconsin Ave., Lake Forest. For more information visit the website or contact Ellen Trager at edt622@comcast.net.