Restaurant fundraisers planned for Naperville Park District's Fee Assistance Program

Beginning June 7, the Naperville Park District is working with area restaurants to offer a series of fundraisers to support the Fee Assistance Program.

Participating restaurants include California Pizza Kitchen, Chipotle, Aurelio's Pizza, Portillo's and Panera Bread. Formerly known as the scholarship program, the Fee Assistance program assists in covering the cost of recreation programs for individuals in need.

In 2008 during the most recent economic downturn, the park district saw dramatic growth in the Fee Assistance Program.

Even though the economy has recovered and the job market has improved, the need for this program continues. In fact, the number of applications for assistance has grown steadily since 2008.

Since 2014, the Naperville Parks Foundation has been raising funds to cover some of the costs of the program.

With the support of the foundation, the park district intends to continue offering assistance to individuals in need. The park district recently changed the name of the program from Scholarship Program to Fee Assistance Program to clarify that the assistance is for participants' fees for recreation programs or seasonal memberships.

"School Districts 203 and 204 have reported significant numbers of low income and homeless students. The park district can help give these students access to fun recreation programs that include healthy physical activity," said Brad Wilson, director of recreation. "Physical activity is linked to better performance in school and increased emotional well-being and helps prevent obesity. Additionally, participants often take away important life lessons or discover something that they're passionate about. This can lead to greater fulfillment in life and increased satisfaction in general."

The new restaurant fundraisers planned for 2018 will help supplement Naperville Parks Foundation funding of the Fee Assistance Program.

Visit www.napervilleparks.org/fundraisers for details.

The full list of 2018 fundraisers is as follows:

• June 7 - California Pizza Kitchen, 28258 Diehl Road in Warrenville from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• July 10 - Chipotle, 1516 N. Naper Blvd., Suite 104, Naperville from 4 to 8 p.m.

• Aug. 9 - Aurelio's Pizza, 1975 Springbrook Square Drive in Naperville from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

• Sept. 13 - California Pizza Kitchen, 28258 Diehl Road in Warrenville from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Oct. 16 - Portillo's, 1992 W. Jefferson, Naperville from 4 to 8 p.m.

• Nov. 8 - California Pizza Kitchen, 28258 Diehl Road in Warrenville from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Dec. 13 - Panera Bread, 491 S. Route 59 in Aurora from 4 to 8 p.m.