LW 210 Foundation Partners Visit High School for Lunch and a Review of Their Contributions

By the Lincoln-Way High School Disrtrict 210 Foundation

This fall, the Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Foundation for Educational Excellence donated $120,000 to the school district. On Thursday, partners in the foundation attended the 8th Annual Partner Recognition Luncheon at Lincoln-Way North High School. Nearly 70 guests filled the Fine Arts Lobby to enjoy lunch and listen to Superintendent Dr. Scott Tingley discuss the state of the district.

“The Lincoln-Way Foundation has donated over $3.5 million dollars since our inception in 1994,” stated Foundation Board President Michelle Moyle. “We are able to achieve this type of success because of the unparalleled support of businesses and individuals, the dedication of our volunteer board directors, and the outstanding reputation of our four high schools. The Partner Luncheon is an opportunity for us to thank our most loyal and generous donors.”

The Foundation Partner Program was first launched in March of 2007. By the end of that calendar year, there were 32 Partners of the Lincoln-Way Foundation. Throughout the challenging economic years that followed, the loyalty and support of the Partners remained steady. Today, there are a total of 53 Partners and Associate Partners.

“Many of our guests today are Charter Partners who joined the program when it launched in 2007. They remain loyal to this program because they believe in the value that the Lincoln-Way high schools bring to this community,” said Board Director and Partner Program Co-Chair Kris Lindley.

Lincoln-Way Partners in attendance at the luncheon on Thursday had an opportunity to experience the immediate impact of their donations when they visited several Lincoln-Way North classrooms.

The recent donation of $120,000 provided educational enhancements for every academic department at all four high schools. Items donated include iPads, laptop and desktop computers, document cameras, fitness equipment, science lab equipment, technology carts, projectors, as well as equipment for art, family & consumer science and industrial technology. This round of funding also provided important seed money for the District’s new L.I.F.E. Transition Program, which serves students with special needs between the ages of 18 and 21.

“We are honored to support our students and our teachers,” said Moyle, who is also a graduate of Lincoln-Way and a parent of a graduate. “Our goal is to donate a total of $250,000 in 2014. We have already donated nearly $215,000, so we are just shy of that mark by about $35,000. We have some work ahead of us. Ultimately, we want to grant every request made by our teachers. They do an outstanding job, and we are very grateful.”

Partners of the Foundation agree that they appreciate the benefit package they receive, however they agree that the most compelling reasons for their support are Lincoln-Way students and teachers. Their gifts to the Foundation have the power to touch the future by impacting student success. The value in that is difficult to measure.