D54 Foundation provides financial support to students
I have visited numerous classrooms throughout our district since school started nearly two months ago, and it is nothing short of amazing to see all of the learning, collaboration, innovation and growth occurring at every grade level, at every building, every day.
As I mentioned in this space in September, my monthly columns this school year will focus on elements that define effective schools and contribute to student success in District 54. One of those elements is community support, and one of our biggest supporters is the Schaumburg Township Elementary School Foundation.
The Schaumburg Township Elementary School Foundation, otherwise known as the D54 Foundation, was founded in 1987 with the goal of providing financial and other resources to enhance both the quality of life, as well as extended learning opportunities, for children in the School District 54 community.
The D54 Foundation raises funds to support programs not fully funded by school budgets or tax dollars.
<h3 class="leadin">Food 4 Thought: </h3>
The D54 Foundation's current focus is a campaign called Food 4 Thought. The goal is to raise $280,000 to fund breakfast programs at all District 54 schools to ensure that students begin their day ready to learn.
Nearly one-third of District 54 students qualify for the federal free lunch program, and while District 54 receives state and federal funds for the lunch program, schools that want to offer breakfast programs to our students in need must raise the money on their own.
Currently, School District 54 is funding breakfast programs at eight schools for nearly 1,200 eligible students, and breakfast programs are being launched at an additional nine schools for more than 1,000 eligible students in early October with a $45,000 donation from the D54 Foundation.
Donations of any size to Food 4 Thought have a direct impact on students' lives. It costs just $1 a day, or $5 a week, to provide a healthy breakfast to a student; a $200 donation provides breakfast to a child for a full school year. Businesses/corporations and individuals can also sponsor an entire school for a full year with a donation of $10,000.
<h3 class="leadin">Memorial Grants: </h3>
For years, the foundation has offered Memorial Grants for students, which are funded, in part, through contributions received in honor of individuals who have passed away.
The grants are offered to District 54 students from families facing extenuating financial circumstances and enable the children to cultivate an academic, cultural or athletic interest to enrich student educational opportunities.
This spring the foundation was able to approve all 233 grant applications for about $26,500 total; thanks to these grants, students were able to participate in soccer classes, swimming lessons, summer camps and much more.
<h3 class="leadin">Funding STEM programs: </h3>
The D54 Foundation has also been involved for years in supporting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programming in District 54.
For example, the foundation donated $1,500 to support rocketry clubs at District 54 schools. However, the biggest partnership is the support of GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science). This year the foundation once again received a Motorola Foundation grant for $20,000 to fund after-school GEMS clubs at all of our elementary and junior high schools.
This grant funds supplies and stipends for teachers so that students have the opportunity to become innovators, practice collaboration and prepare for the exciting opportunities in their futures.
On behalf of the more than 14,000 students in District 54, thank you to the Schaumburg Township Elementary School Foundation trustees for the part you are playing in helping us ensure student success, and thank you to our community for your ongoing support of our students and schools.
To learn more about the foundation or to donate, visit www.d54foundation.com.