District Fifteen Educational Foundation Honors Its Supporters’ Contributions

On behalf of the District Fifteen Educational Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Mark Utendorf, its chairman, paid special recognition to the contributions of some of the Foundation’s most generous donors during the September 14 meeting of the District 15 Board of Education.

“Some of these donors are new to us this year, but some, like Motorola, have been supporting us for almost two decades,” said Mr. Utendorf. “However, all of them have made vital and generous contributions to our ongoing efforts to provide programs and projects that enhance and supplement the educational experience of District 15 students.”

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS FOUNDATION®

The Motorola Solutions Foundation has long been one of the Foundation’s biggest supporters. Since 2001, the Foundation has received 10 grants from Motorola Solutions Foundation totaling more than $97,000. The Foundation has used these funds to field FIRST LEGO® League teams throughout Community Consolidated School District 15. FIRST LEGO League teams compete in regional, state, and national tournaments by building robots out of LEGOS and programming them to accomplish specific maneuvers and tasks related to the theme of the year’s challenge.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN                           

In 1997, Northrop Grumman’s funding and engineering expertise helped District 15 and the Foundation transform a school bus into a space shuttle and build a mission control center at Kimball Hill School. Their ongoing efforts to help maintain and upgrade this unique learning tool have helped the District and the Foundation continued to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities that incorporate math, science, and technology.

SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.

Sony graciously donated five camcorders that will be used in the video production studios that are found all in of District 15’s schools. This cutting-edge technology will allow District 15 students to produce school news shows and other innovative projects, improving not only the production of their programs, but also their presentation and speaking skills.

LAW OFFICES OF JOHN ZELENKA

A graduate of District 15 schools, Mr. Zelenka is now one of the District’s most dedicated community members and supporters. He has been a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees for more than 10 years, and his law firm has funded a Foundation grant that supports the District’s Rainbows grief program, which provides counseling and training to help students weather life’s storms.

HODGES, LOIZZI, EISENHAMMER, RODICK AND KOHN LLP

This local law firm has been a consistent supporter of the Foundation for many years. It has sponsored events such as the “Hearts of Gold” gala, Bowl for Education, and most recently D15 Royale. All of these events provide funding that allows the Foundation to fulfill its mission.

STR PARTNERS LLC

This civic-minded architectural firm sponsored the Foundation’s D15 Royale event this past spring. Proceeds from this event will help the Foundation fund its mini-grant program and purchase new technology for District 15 classrooms this year.

DR. GERRY AYLWARD, DDS

Dr. Aylward is a local orthodontist and multi-talented musician who believes we are only as strong as our community. He has funded a musical scholarship that will provide an instrument and/or music lessons for a student at each of District 15’s four junior highs.

DR. W. CHRISTINE RAUSCHER

Dr. Rauscher is a longtime educator and former assistant superintendent for District 15’s Department of Instruction. Although she is retired, she has remained involved in District 15 through her generous support of Foundation events such as the “Hearts of Gold” gala and the very popular “Howl at the Moon” dueling piano shows. Dr. Rauscher knows firsthand how the supplemental funding made possible by these events can help teachers foster creativity and knowledge in their classrooms.

-Story Submitted by Community Consolidated School District 15