Orchard Village Receives $10,000 Grant from O’Reilly Automotive Foundation to Support Student Transportation

SKOKIE, IL — Orchard Village is pleased to announce that its Academy has received a $10,000 grant from the O’Reilly Automotive Foundation, Inc., the philanthropy arm of O’Reilly Auto Parts. The funding will help cover transportation costs for students enrolled in Orchard Academy, Orchard Village’s Illinois State Board of Education-approved onsite special education school for students aged 17-22.

For many students at Orchard Academy, reliable transportation is not simply a convenience — it is what makes attending school possible. The students served by the Academy live with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and their daily commutes often require specialized vehicles, trained staff, and careful planning. Students travel not only to school, but to jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities that take them out into the community.

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Rising transportation costs can place real pressure on families and on the organization’s ability to maintain consistent services. This grant from the O’Reilly Automotive Foundation will help ease that burden and keep students connected to the education and support they need.

“We are deeply grateful to the O’Reilly Automotive Foundation for this generous gift,” said Susan Kaufman, President and CEO of Orchard Village. “Transportation is one of the most essential — and often overlooked — pieces of what makes Academy students’ education possible. This support will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the students and their families.”

Orchard Village serves 330 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, empowering them to work and live more independently in their communities. Orchard Academy is at the heart of that mission, providing students with the skills, confidence, and connections they need to thrive.

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Founded in 1972, Orchard Village is a charitable social services organization located in Skokie, Illinois. The agency empowers children and adults with developmental disabilities to achieve fulfilling lives in their communities. It partners with families and communities to ensure that people with developmental disabilities have choices and a voice in their lives, and, that they receive support to reach their goals. Orchard Village services and programs support the housing, day program, employment, behavioral and mental health, and home-based needs of nearly 330 participants, who range in age from children to mature adults. For more information about Orchard Village and its services, visit www.orchardvillage.org.