Oak Park–River Forest district hears $100,000 naming pledge for little theater

The Committee of the Whole heard a naming recognition request from the Imagine Foundation on Nov. 6, when the foundation’s representative described a $100,000 pledge from the Armstrong family to name a small theater at Oak Park River Forest High School in the family’s honor. “There is a $100,000 gift that is being pledged to name a little theater in this family's honor,” the presenter said during the meeting.

Board members discussed the form of the gift and the length of recognition. A staff member clarified the $100,000 is the pledged contribution and that many donors use multiyear gift agreements: “...many of our donors, they have a multiyear gift agreement over 5 years,” the presenter said, and noted that naming recognitions are typically granted for a 10-year period.

District staff said the funds would flow into the district’s contributory project fund and would be used toward reimbursement to the capital project identified as Project 2. Trustees praised the Armstrong family’s generosity and the Imagine Foundation’s process for vetting requests; no formal vote was recorded at the Committee of the Whole. The board agreed to move the item forward on the agenda for subsequent consideration at the board’s regular meeting or a future consent agenda.

If the board moves to finalize a naming agreement, the district will document the gift schedule and the recognition period in a formal naming agreement consistent with prior district practice.