Niles North Athletics receives $30,357 year-end donation from its Boosters

Aug 15, 2017

SKOKIE, IL The NNHS athletic department received a year-end gift of $30,357 from their Athletic Boosters, in addition to $12,000 donated to students and teams by the Boosters during the 2016-17 school year. Multiple athletic programs are slated to benefit from the donation, and new projects sponsored by the Boosters will be underway this fall.

Plans for using the year-end gift include:

• new equipment for volleyball, basketball, tennis, swimming and track & field;
• new outdoor shelters for football, track & field and soccer;
• new uniform items for wresting, bowling and the dance team;
• professional quality photos of the athletes in action;
• trophy cases for the athletic entrance hallway;
• a new backdrop for state finalists and college signing photo opportunities;
• a new video stabilizer for football

Additionally, $3,000 was put aside for the future purchase of new scoreboards for baseball and softball, and new record boards for gymnastics.

Booster Club Treasurer, Andrew Toy, reported that throughout the school year, the Boosters also awarded $2,000 in scholarships to outstanding senior athletes, gave almost $7,000 to teams who volunteered to work concessions, provided a $1,000 sponsorship to the school’s P.E. Leaders program, and awarded a $500 grant to the dance team for their dream trip to Disney where they will perform later this year. "All told, the Booster’s donated over $42,000 to Niles North athletics during the 2016-17 school year," said Toy.

Funds were primarily raised through corporate sponsorships, memberships, concessions, and the Club’s major fundraiser, a Bingo & Silent Auction fundraiser held last April. The event was supported by about 300 guests and over 100 generous sponsors and donors. Fundraising Chair Cindy Dwyer noted, “It was our first time having a bingo night as our major fundraiser. It was so successful that we are going to do it again this school year. So save the date -- April 21, 2018!”

Giving Back to the Community: Girls Play Sports Program at Niles North

New for the 2017-18 is the implementation of a Girls Play Sports ("GPS") Mentorship Program at Niles North sponsored by the Boosters. GPS is a non-profit organization dedicated to building leadership skills and confidence in young girls through their exposure to, and participation in, a wide variety of sports at a young age. Current female athletes at Niles North will serve as mentors to young girls from the community who join the program. “This program is going to be my baby,” said Athletic Director, Brett Bildstein, who was inspired by the program at Evanston High School. He brought the idea to the Boosters, and they embraced it wholeheartedly. "This program is a great opportunity for our female athletes to give back to the community and inspire young female athletes," he said.

The Boosters expressed gratitude for the support they received from their new principal, Jim Edwards, and the hard work and thoughtful guidance of their new Athletic Director, Brett Bildstein. “Together, they have helped us change, grow and succeed as an organization. Our school motto is ‘We are One’ -- and we truly are,” said Booster Club President, Christine Aragon. “We understand the importance of working together as one because it’s not about us, it’s about the kids.”