Donations from individuals and companies help the Sycamore Education Foundation give special support to local students and schools beyond the regular District 427 budget.  Executive Director Rachel Sauber outlined how private gifts help provide money for scholarships, alumni recognition, and project grants requested for student activities and building enhancements.

 

Sauber said there are multiple ways to support the Foundation.  A pair of annual fundraising events help raise money to carry out their mission.  Their “Take Root” gala will be held September 16^th at the Kishwaukee Country Club.  There will be food, drinks, live entertainment, and a silent auction.  Sauber said it will be a fun evening.  Tickets go on sale August 1^st.   In February, the Foundation will host a Trivia night at the Regale Center.  The Foundation has a special “Partnership” program for business sponsors.  As a 501C3 charity, the Foundation can also accept individual and planned giving donations and manage special designated funds.

 

Sauber said the Foundation disperses funds for student scholarships, alumni relations, and grants for classroom programs and property enhancements.  She said last year they granted 21 scholarships to help students continue their education and career training.  Annually, distinguished high school alumni who have been out of school at least ten years are named to the Foundation’s Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding achievements in their careers and/or school support.  Also, multiple grants totaling $53, 000 were awarded last school year to support teaching and program activities.  These included Spartan TV broadcasting equipment, Middle School outdoor basketball hoops, helps for the Girl’s High School Softball Field upgrades, High School welding equipment and supplies, a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) lab for South Prairie School, and library materials for West School.

 

Additional information and donation opportunities are available at the Foundation website:  www.sycamoresef.org.          

July 25, 1954 – Chicago Bear Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton is born in Columbia, Mississippi.  Nicknamed “Sweetness” he played 13 seasons with the Bears and is widely considered one of the greatest football players of all time holding multiple league records when he retired.

 

July 26, 1856 – Prolific Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw is born in Dublin, Ireland.

 

July 28, 1929 – Jacqueline (Jackie) Bouvier Kennedy is born in Southampton, New York.

 

July 29, 1905 – Dag Hammarskjold, Swedish public servant, second Secretary General of the United Nations (1953-1961), and posthumous Nobel Peace Prize winner, is born in Jonkoping, Sweden.

July 24, 1911 – American archeologist Hiram Bingham gets his first look at the ruins of Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca settlement in Peru that is now one of the world’s top tourist destinations.

 

July 24, 1915 – The steamer Eastland overturns at its dock in the Chicago River drowning between 800 and 850 passengers when apparently too many passengers gathered on one side causing the imbalance.  The passengers were all employees of the Western Electric Company or family members headed for a company picnic on the shores of Lake Michigan.

 

July 26, 1953 – Fidel Castro begins his “26^th of July Movement” to topple the dictatorship of Cuba by Fulgencio Batista.  He is eventually successful when Batista flees Cuba on New Year’s Day 1959.

 

July 27, 1953 – The Korean War ends with the signing of an armistice at Panmunjom, Korea.