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ABC/25 Foundation Newsletter

Granting Inspiration to Forward Education

ABC/25 Foundation Newsletter Granting Inspiration to Forward Education

Please scroll through this entire newsletter for community learning opportunities and other ways you can support the ABC/25 Foundation.

What You Can Look Forward To In This Newsletter:

  • 2024-2025 School Year Grant Winners
  • ABC/25 Membership Grant Incentive & Information on How You Can Join
  • Upcoming Event: Magic of Science Assembly on January 20th (MLK Day)
  • Save the Date: ABC/25 Top Golf Fundraiser on April 6th
  • Update on Last Year's District-Wide Grant
  • Join Our Team

ALL 9 AHSD25 SCHOOLS WON A GRANT!

During the first semester of every school year, one parent liaison from each school blindly votes on grant applications submitted by Arlington Heights School District 25 teachers and staff based on how relevant they are to the district's curriculum and the mission of the ABC/25 Foundation, "to foster innovation, creativity, and excellence for the children of District 25."


This year, the ABC/25 Foundation received 39 grant applications. We were able to fund 28 of those grants so that a total of $31,098.29 was distributed to all 9 schools! See the list of winners below and visit our website to see more details on all funded grants. https://abc25.org/past-funded-grants/.

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Olive-Mary Stitt Grant Winners

  1. Nancy Brown for Developing Literacy Through Audiobooks (2-5) 14 audiobooks, foam boards to advertise audiobooks and facilitate circulation, 14 plastic protective cases
  2. Erin Davis for Swinging into Regulation (K-5) two different sensory swings to be hung from ceiling in new sensory classroom
  3. Lindsay Fraser for Woman of the World (4) variety of biography books on influential women in history
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Patton Grant Winners

  1. Lindsay Arndt & Allison Anderle for Sounding Off - Podcasting at Patton (K-5) beginner podcast studio equipment
  2. Lindsay Arndt, Jennifer Leigh, Shannon Jedd, Amy Johnson, Amanda Vincent, and Mary Goumas for 3D Printing in a 3D World (K-5) Dremel 3D45-EDU Printer Kit
  3. Stacy Hemmer & Shannon Kownick for Who Would Win? Sports Book Grant (K-5) Who Would Win? Sports book series that compares the careers of various athletes in a head-to-head format
  4. Jacqulyn Levin for Elite Hoop Disc Target Set for Elementary PE Students (K-5) set of 9 hoop targets for PE
  5. Monique Weber & Barb Donahue for Purposeful Play for All at Indoor Recess (K-5) toys and building/engineering STEM kits, which encourage collaborative, open-ended, purposeful play
  6. Casey Whitaker for Mic Drop! (Actually, Please Do Not Drop the Mics) (K-5) two wireless handheld and lavalier microphones with receivers
  7. Kelly Wiest, Anne Rough, Julie Cowen, Robin McEwen, Amy Heisler, Patricia Litberg, Timothy Morkert, Stephanie Koenig, Mary Gerbatsch, Lindsay Arndt, Stacie Pacini, Karen Pullam, and Danielle Hiller for Grade-Level Multicultural Library (K-4) 135 children's books representing and celebrating diversity to be divided among 5 shared libraries across grades K-4.
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Westgate Grant Winners

  1. Jennifer Carney for You are the Boss of Your Brain! (K-5) Light Up the Learning Brain School Leader Starter Kit, an educational toolkit that fosters a trauma-sensitive, brain-based approach to education
  2. Lauren Cory for Phonics Fun! (1) phonics games, sound wall, literacy manipulatives/tools, timers, and storage
  3. Kaitlyn Gries for Building Minds, One Nugget at a Time (K) a Nugget couch
  4. Adam Mead for A Sound Investment: Modern Sound Equipment for Westgate's Music (K-5) upgraded sound equipment, including a digital mixer, Bluetooth receiver, portable rack with wheels, and cables for microphones
  5. David Peterson for "Dash into Coding" (K-5) six dash robots and a gripper building kit
  6. Westgate Kindergarten Team for Dramatic Play Market for Kindergarteners (K) dramatic play market with coffee shop, bakery, and ice cream supplies
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Dryden Grant Winners

  1. Yolanda Bolithon & Susan Menel for Bilingual Talking Dictionaries for Newcomers (K-5) Three talking dictionaries: Spanish/English, Ukrainian/English, Russian/English.
  2. Maria Goldstein for "Dash" into Coding (K-5) six dash robots and a gripper building kit
  3. Beth Kovacic & Hannah Fiedler for Keeping Fiction Fabulous (K-5) new fiction books and replacing well-loved, worn-out books
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Greenbrier Grant Winners

  1. Katherine Brower for Fiber Lesson Materials (2-5) felt, tacky glue, sewing needles, stuffing, sewing scissors, burlap, and yarn for weaving, learn to sew, and sew own stuffed animal projects
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Ivy Hill Grant Winners

  1. Emily Eisenhuth for Hands-On Math Centers (K) variety of math center materials to enhance number sense, shape recognition, measurement, and foundational addition/subtraction skills
  2. Julie Salski for Tablet Fun for Everyone! (K-5) six 16-inch and six 10-inch drawing/writing tablets and tablet holders for reading and math
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Windsor Grant Winners

  1. Allison Keough, Lindsay Anastacio, Melanie Soprano, Anna Klaw, Colleen Higgins, Ryan Freese, Mike Pupillo, Laura Angelus, Kelli Blau, Amy Harder, Kristen Ikezawa, Jennifer Schmidt, Lea Samartino, Audrey Baumeister, Abby Wendell, Amy Reed, Jenny Scapillato, and Dana McAndrew for Empowering Young Readers: Making Reading Accessible to All Children with Adapted Books (K-5) 231 books, adapted book PDF files, organization bins and pouches, card stock, velcro. Adapted books include the story and movable pieces with velcro for students to better comprehend and engage with the stories.
  2. Amy Reed for Reaching All Readers Through Combined Print and Audio Books (K-5) sixteen books, including picture books, early reader chapter books, middle grade chapter books, bilingual Spanish book, and a graphic novel where students can listen and read along at the same time
  3. Camille Ziemann for Uke Can Impact Student Learning (4-5) a classroom set of soprano ukuleles and a storage cart
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South Grant Winners

  1. Cheryl Demeter for Podcast Palooza (6-8) podcasting microphones, mic stands, boom arms, headphones, and audio interface with headphone splitter/amplifier
  2. Wes Skym for Mic Check Part 3 (6-8) four antenna splitters
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Thomas Grant Winners

  1. Dana Fortunato for Spanish Class Library (6-8) a variety of Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling Spanish recreational reading books for the classroom
  2. Sandra Vliet for Garden Alchemy: Cultivating a Climate of Creativity and Innovation Through Environmental Education: Soil-Mates Garden Club (6-8) funding educational/gardening supplies/tools/programs and repairs for the school gardens

Membership Incentive Grant Program

Each year, the ABC/25 Foundation grants $2,500.00 to any AHSD25 school when 25% of the school’s families become members. If you have children at multiple schools, each school will get credit for your participation, so make sure to indicate if you have multiple schools when joining. So far, Thomas, Westgate, and Windsor have met this goal! Way to go!


Your $40.00 family membership leads to an additional $22,500.00 donated once the school district reaches 25% ABC/25 membership! It's not too late to join and help your school and the district reach this goal!

Become a member by February 15, 2025 to be entered into a drawing for your student(s) to win a ride to school from the Arlington Heights Police Department!

Click Here to Become a Member Today!
For just $40, you will gain a tax-deductible membership for a full school year. Your membership will help your school meet its membership goal, fund grants for teachers, and gain you free or discounted entry into our non-attendance day events.

Upcoming Event: The Magic of Science!

Come join us at Ivy Hill on January 20, 2025, for The Magic of Science, where chemistry, magnetism, optical illusions, physics, and mathematics will be demonstrated in an energetic performance perfect for children. Everything performed has a scientific principle behind it; however, each of these topics will appear to the audience as a challenging and astonishing magic trick. You might even learn to do a trick at home!


There will be two 45-minute shows. Space is limited, so please only sign up for one time showing. Each child must sign up individually. This event is free for members and $10 for non-members.

Save the Date: ABC/25 Fundraiser at Top Golf

Save the date for our ABC/25 Fundraiser at Top Golf in Schaumburg on Sunday, April 6th from 1 - 4 PM. Join us for 3 hours of golf and appetizers, silent auction, raffles, and more!


Interested in sponsoring? Reach out to ABC25president@gmail.com

Growing Together: A Fork Farm Initiative

We'd like to extend a massive thank you to all who donated to the Fork Farm Initiative and to the Arlington Heights Council of PTAs for giving us the extra boost needed to reach our goal.


We are so excited to announce that last school year we were able to raise enough funds for the district to get two additional indoor vertical hydroponic systems from Fork Farms! This brings the district's total to 3 units that are rotated between all 9 AHSD25 schools throughout the year. Our students are enjoying learning about STEM, nutrition, and how to be sustainable global citizens through hands-on learning by growing their own fresh greens and vegetables.


Learn more about The Fork Farm Initiative on our website.

Join Our Team!

ABC/25 is seeking dedicated individuals to represent their school as an ABC/25 liaison. As a liaison, you have the wonderful opportunity to make a difference in District 25. By joining us, you can be a connection to your home school, help with exciting fundraising opportunities, and be a part of our grant funding process. This is a wonderful opportunity to get involved, support our students, and help drive initiatives that benefit our schools.


We would love to build our team but are specifically in need of people from Westgate this year. That said, the more the merrier, so please reach out if you're interested in becoming a liaison no matter what your home school is!

ABC/25 Foundation
abc25.org
Founded in 1991, the ABC/25 Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to enhancing District 25. Our mission is to inspire innovation, creativity, and excellence for District 25 children. Comprising district parents, community leaders, and school administrators, our volunteer board and committee drive positive change. With over 30 years of impact, we’ve raised nearly two million dollars, funding projects and grants that empower District 25 students and teachers.


Want to be involved in ABC/25 initiatives? There are opportunities to participate as school liaisons! Reach out to your school PTA to find out more or email (abc25president@gmail.com).


Become a member today! https://sd25.revtrak.net/ABC25-Foundation/#/v/ABC25-Foundation-Donation