More than Valentine's Day, #Love214 a time to give
It's not just Valentine's Day.
It is 2-14, and - consequently - an ideal time to raise funds for the District 214 Education Foundation through its annual #Love214 online campaign.
The 501(c)3 supports innovation, student success and lifelong learning in District 214 beyond the limits of conventional public education. And in a time when approximately 1 in 3 students live in poverty, the need is great.
The foundation is inviting alumni, parents and community members to take to social media to say why they #Love214, using that tag and tagging @214Foundation, and also to consider a financial contribution to the foundation, which will fund things like added support for first-generation college students, Advanced Placement test scholarships for those who can't afford it, teacher mini-grants for curriculum, basic needs for low-income families and much more.
To give directly, visit www.214foundation.org. Checks can be written to the D214 Education Foundation and mailed to 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.
"The need has always been significant, but given the times we are in now, it has never been greater," said Tom Munz, chair of the foundation board. "Our community has stepped up like never before this year in support of public education, and we are looking again to our community to come together in support of our students, staff and innovative programs."
#Love214 replaces the national Giving Tuesday online campaign, which falls the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Holmes said the foundation board believed donors were fatigued by financial asks from so many organizations in a single day, and made the decision to create a unique, District 214-centric day of giving. Individuals also are asked to wear their District 214 school swag and again use the #Love214 and @214Founadtion tags on social media. They also can post what they love within the District, which educates 12,000 students annually.
The foundation this year also has distributed laminated candy hearts around the district with campaign information and foundation details. Those who find one are encouraged to snap and post a photo, and strongly consider a financial gift that makes a tangible difference.
A gift of $100, for instance, funds an Advanced Placement test that may land a student four college credits - saving them $2,000 or more.
"The foundation's role is to create and support equity, and to make sure every student has the same chance at future success," Munz said. "We want to make sure students have all they need to be college, career and life ready. Even the smallest gifts matter, and can be life-changing for a student who needs someone to believe in them."
The foundation this year has focused largely on pandemic relief, raising nearly $110,000 to support more than 400 families across the district who were impacted by COVID-19 either through job loss or illness. The needs continue, and the pandemic has magnified the issue.
For more information on the foundation or the campaign, visit www.214foundation.org.