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Education Foundation reports strong fundraising, awards 28 teacher grants to District 58 classrooms
Summary
The Downers Grove District 58 Education Foundation presented its fundraising results, said it has raised more than $2 million over 23 years, and announced 28 teacher grants (about $30,000 total) supporting items from VR headsets to STEM kits.
The Education Foundation of Downers Grove Grade School District 58 updated the board on fundraising and grant awards during the April meeting, saying the foundation has operated for 23 years and has raised more than $2 million to support district programs.
Megan Hewitt, presenting for the foundation, said the foundation’s recent fundraisers have been strong: the foundation grossed more than $300,000 last year and was on pace in the current year to exceed that number. Foundation president Janet Ollikpal described signature events — a two‑day Oktoberfest (net profit last year reported at about $120,000), the Grove Express run (partnership with Rotary and the Downers Grove Road Runners that provides recurring revenue to the foundation and district) and other events such as Bougie Bingo and the Harlem Wizards game. Hewitt said the foundation supports eight programs (four for students, four for staff) and funds those through multiple fundraising channels.
The foundation said it awarded 28 teacher grants totaling approximately $30,000 this year. Sample grants the foundation highlighted: eight virtual reality headsets used by both middle schools; STEM and SEL makerspace kits; curriculum-linked literacy materials for a new middle-school ELA curriculum; an attachment trombone to support band; a chomp saw to support middle-school engineering projects; Braille and Beyond Club supplies and 3-D printing filament for students with visual impairment; and classroom manipulatives and sensory supports for math and social‑emotional learning.
The foundation also noted programs for students (a middle-school orientation program, reading competitions, Author Fest on April 25 and the Select 58 service awards on April 30) and staff recognition programs (Green Apple Awards and Distinguished Service Awards). Hewitt and Ollikpal thanked volunteers and community partners and introduced several grant recipients present at the meeting.
