Dist. 211 employees donate nearly $30K to charities

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 employees donated nearly $30,000 to charities over the last three months.

The money was raised through the district’s combined charities campaign. Employees donated $29,987 to more than 1,000 different groups, including the United Way. The school board was given the information at Thursday’s meeting.

“Our staff recognizes there are needs in the community, and they are willing to make significant donations,” Superintendent Nancy Robb said.

Palatine High School had the most employees donate with 130 giving $7,910. Conant High School had 97 employees give $6,057, while Fremd High School had 70 give $4,740. Hoffman Estates High School had 49 give $2,190, while Schaumburg High School had 44 give $4,290. The district’s administration donated $4,675 from 79 employees.

District 211 spokesman Tom Petersen said the program gives employees a list of local and national groups. Independent Charities of America was the most popular beneficiary with $6,969, followed by the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago with $4,889. The District 211 foundation also received $3,445 from employees.

“(The program) really allows employees to select the charity or charities of their choice,” Petersen said.

The totals are actually down from previous years. Last year, employees gave $32,936. In 2006, the number was $49,505.

Petersen said the numbers don’t properly measure how hard the staff works to inform employees about the program.

“We have a great team of coordinators at each of the buildings that really get the message out,” Petersen said.

The program started 36 years ago and has seen much growth. In 1974, $1,330 was donated.

The campaign starts in November, and employees can have donations deducted from their paychecks.

“It’s a great program, very easy to administer,” Petersen said.