|
|
|
With the Illinois State Board of Education looking at cutting up to $1 billion out of their budget this year, funding for local school districts has been hard to come by.
Nadia Blanc-Daley, president of the St. Charles Greater Education Foundation, said that in the year where their organization looks to surpass $1 million raised since their inception in 1992, raising funds has become essential to St. Charles Community Unit School District 303.
“It is very important, especially this year,” Blanc-Daley said. “As you know, there have been some cuts in our district because of the economic situation, so our goal is to try and help alleviate some of that stress so that teachers know that we’re there, and if they need something that cannot be funded from the district, they can apply for a grant.”
The foundation raises funds to award teachers in District 303 through blind grants. A teacher applies with an innovative or new idea and the foundation decides the best use of the money. Last year, they funded 17 grants, the biggest being $7,000 for camera and video equipment for a high school TV broadcast studio at St. Charles North.
“It’s really wonderful because it supports the curriculum,” Blanc-Daley said. “If they choose to go into that field, they will be knowledgeable about what goes on and have a better opportunity to get a job. This gives them a good head start.”
At 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at St. Charles Royal Fox Country Club, the foundation will host their 15th annual jazz fundraiser featuring bands from St. Charles East and North High schools, a dinner, an auction and other events. Tickets are $65, 100-percent of which will go back into District 303 via grants.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” Blanc-Daley said. “This year ... it’s very, very important that we get the support of the public to help us raise more funds so we can help support the kids.”
Notable
The St. Charles Greater Education Foundation have 20 board members, who all work as free volunteers. They have raised $980,000 since 1992, which averages out to about $57,650 a year.
& quotable
On high-tech equipment: “We’re a very technology oriented world. We need our kids in the United States to be able to compete with other kids in Japan, China and Europe. A lot of countries are doing it. We don’t want our kids to fall behind.”
Philosophy
“I’ve always been involved in fundraising and helping, giving back to my community,” Blanc-Daley said. “That’s something that’s very close to my heart. ... Many of my colleagues share that same viewpoint that they want to help their community by giving back (and) volunteering, and we all put in many hours into the foundation.”
Favorites
SCHOOL SUBJECT Geography, “My kids all know about geography, I always promote it.”
ST. CHARLES RESTAURANT Onesti Steakhouse and Supper Club
BOOK Recently enjoyed reading “Idiot America”
HOBBIES Reading, conversation, volunteering, long walks
With the Illinois State Board of Education looking at cutting up to $1 billion out of their budget this year, funding for local school districts has been hard to come by.
Nadia Blanc-Daley, president of the St. Charles Greater Education Foundation, said that in the year where their organization looks to surpass $1 million raised since their inception in 1992, raising funds has become essential to St. Charles Community Unit School District 303.
“It is very important, especially this year,” Blanc-Daley said. “As you know, there have been some cuts in our district because of the economic situation, so our goal is to try and help alleviate some of that stress so that teachers know that we’re there, and if they need something that cannot be funded from the district, they can apply for a grant.”
The foundation raises funds to award teachers in District 303 through blind grants. A teacher applies with an innovative or new idea and the foundation decides the best use of the money. Last year, they funded 17 grants, the biggest being $7,000 for camera and video equipment for a high school TV broadcast studio at St. Charles North.
“It’s really wonderful because it supports the curriculum,” Blanc-Daley said. “If they choose to go into that field, they will be knowledgeable about what goes on and have a better opportunity to get a job. This gives them a good head start.”
At 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at St. Charles Royal Fox Country Club, the foundation will host their 15th annual jazz fundraiser featuring bands from St. Charles East and North High schools, a dinner, an auction and other events. Tickets are $65, 100-percent of which will go back into District 303 via grants.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” Blanc-Daley said. “This year ... it’s very, very important that we get the support of the public to help us raise more funds so we can help support the kids.”
Notable
The St. Charles Greater Education Foundation have 20 board members, who all work as free volunteers. They have raised $980,000 since 1992, which averages out to about $57,650 a year.
& quotable
On high-tech equipment: “We’re a very technology oriented world. We need our kids in the United States to be able to compete with other kids in Japan, China and Europe. A lot of countries are doing it. We don’t want our kids to fall behind.”
Philosophy
“I’ve always been involved in fundraising and helping, giving back to my community,” Blanc-Daley said. “That’s something that’s very close to my heart. ... Many of my colleagues share that same viewpoint that they want to help their community by giving back (and) volunteering, and we all put in many hours into the foundation.”
Favorites
SCHOOL SUBJECT Geography, “My kids all know about geography, I always promote it.”
ST. CHARLES RESTAURANT Onesti Steakhouse and Supper Club
BOOK Recently enjoyed reading “Idiot America”
HOBBIES Reading, conversation, volunteering, long walks
