Making a Difference: The 40 Project

Turning forty is a milestone that many celebrate through parties and presents. However, celebrating one’s birthday at The Illinois Holocaust Museum is not typical, but Mrs. Heather Meskimen is not an ordinary language arts teacher. Mrs. Meskimen truly is a lead teacher by contributing to projects that have a positive impact on school life and for the wider school community.

Heather Meskimen, an eighth grade teacher at Independence Junior High School in Palos Heights, Illinois, wanted to not only teach her students about the Holocaust, but lead by example the importance of giving back. On May 5, 2016, the eighth graders from Independence will be at the museum, which happens to be Mrs. Meskimen’s 40th birthday. Millions lost their lives during the Holocaust, and Heather Meskimen wants to celebrate lives that were lost and make a difference; therefore, Mrs. Meskimen has started The 40 Project.

Anyone can donate 40 of some kind of coin or dollar bills: 40 pennies, 40 nickels, 40 dimes, 40 quarters, 40 dollars, etc. The money raised will be donated to The Illinois Holocaust Museum to be used to help students attend the museum for free, to provide teacher training, and to support educational programs at the museum. If you want to help Heather Meskimen make a difference, please visit www.gofundme.com/The40Project and celebrate life and Mrs. Meskimen’s 40th birthday while positively making an impact on a school and a community initiative. Please donate today and help Mrs. Meskimen make a difference while celebrating life.