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Indian Prairie Educational Foundation reports record one‑semester giving and expands student supports, including cardiac screenings and RISE after‑school grants
Summary
The Indian Prairie Educational Foundation on Feb. 24 reported its largest single‑semester contributions in a decade and expanded support for after‑school programs, teacher grants and health screenings.
Trudy Ranson, executive director of the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation (IPEF), presented the foundation’s mid‑year report to the board on Feb. 24, summarizing fundraising results and programs supporting District 204 schools.
Ranson said the foundation recorded its largest single‑semester contribution of goods and services to the district in the past 10 years. Categories highlighted included district support, Team IPEF fundraising, grants, the A+ award program and Kid Essentials. Team IPEF 2024 had 285 participants across 34 buildings and raised more than $80,000; approximately half of each school’s fundraising returns to that school. Ranson singled out Graham Elementary as the top fundraiser, with more than $12,000 raised.
IPEF reported a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education to support the district’s RISE after‑school programs in several elementary and middle schools; programs include mentoring, social‑emotional learning and reading interventions with field trips to the Harold Washington Library. The foundation also awarded 10 teacher innovation grants for STEM, world language, SEL and arts programming.
Ranson provided updated figures for IPEF’s biennial cardiac‑screening program: this year’s high‑school screenings drew turnout exceeding 1,600 students per high school, with a total of 36 students flagged for further medical review (abnormal ECG) across the district. Since the program began in 2008–09, IPEF said it has screened more than 44,000 high‑school students and flagged approximately 4,404 for follow‑up; the foundation reported 4,400+ volunteers over the program’s history.
Ranson also previewed upcoming events including an Inspire breakfast and the Valley Runway prom‑dress donation event. She encouraged nominations for IPEF’s A+ award and described ongoing merchandise and sponsorship opportunities for the Inspire campaign.
Ending: The board thanked IPEF for its work; Ranson said volunteers, sponsors and community donors make many of the programs possible and invited board members and the public to upcoming IPEF events.
