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Schools

Foundation Aims to Help Students Living in Poverty

Offers assistance with paying for tools like calculators and computers.

The District 219 Educational Foundation for Excellence got down to business for the 2011-2012 school year Tuesday evening, allotting more than $22,000 for various needs in less than an hour.

That money will pay for basic educational tools for students in Niles Township High School District 219 who otherwise could not afford them, said foundation chairman Jeffrey Burman.

“We exist for two purposes,” he said. “We raise money, and then we give it away.”

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Earlier:

The need that some students have was emphasized Tuesday when the U.S. Census Bureau announced that 15.1 percent of Americans – more than 46 million people – are living in poverty. That statistic was also highlighted by Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen, who served on the foundation’s board.

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The allotted money will pay for a number of items for students. Some of those items include up to 20 computers at $300 each, which will be made available to students whose families do not have one at home.  All freshmen and sophomores have computers through the district’s netbook program, which began with last year’s freshman class. However, school counselors have already identified seven juniors who do not have access to a computer at home.

Discretionary spending by school principals is also within the $22,000. That includes $2,000 each for Niles West and Niles North and $1,000 for Niles Central. Bridget Connelly, assistant principal for student services at Niles North, said the money has been used to pay for items like eyeglasses, basic school supplies and field trip fees.

While Niles Central tries to prepare its students to return to their home high schools – either Niles West or Niles North – some students are not able to go back, but are ready to move to post-secondary education. Considering that, the board allotted $4,000 in scholarships for Niles Central students as well. The possibility of scholarship money can be an incentive for Niles Central students, said Niles Central director John Frampton.

Overall, the foundation allotted more than half of the roughly $38,000 it distributed in the entire 2010-2011 school year, Burman said. But that’s because most needs become apparent early in the school year.

The foundation is looking to continue providing granola or other breakfast bars through the school counselors to students who might come to school hungry. They’re also trying to launch a program that would send students from needy families with a backpack full of food each weekend. Those efforts are in conjunction with the Niles Township Food Pantry, which has seen its number of clients grow this year as well.

Board member Marc Collins, who serves on the Niles Township board, said the foundation’s efforts to feed hungry students are important.

“People who can’t afford to buy food can’t afford to buy anything,” Collins said.

The foundation board discussed upcoming fundraisers as well, including the second annual Pizza Wars in January. On Sept. 15, 2012, the foundation will have a gala event at Oakton Community College to unveil a “Niles East Museum” with memorabilia from the former school. Also, Niles West alumnus and Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner and his former gymnastics coach, John Burkel, have agreed to write a letter urging people to donate to the foundation for the alumni newsletter.

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