District 181 Foundation
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    • Home
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Significant Initiatives
    • Programs
      • Event Schedule
      • D181 Student Art Show
      • Danny Riehle Memorial
      • Got STEM D181?
      • Math Assistance Hotline
      • Tech Ambassadors
      • Young Writers
    • Grants
      • Educator Grants
      • KIDS Grants
    • Ways to Give
      • Business Partners
      • Professional Partners
      • Family Resource Partners
      • Staff Appreciation
      • Trivia Night
    • Community Speaker Series
    • Donate
District 181 Foundation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Significant Initiatives
  • Programs
    • Event Schedule
    • D181 Student Art Show
    • Danny Riehle Memorial
    • Got STEM D181?
    • Math Assistance Hotline
    • Tech Ambassadors
    • Young Writers
  • Grants
    • Educator Grants
    • KIDS Grants
  • Ways to Give
    • Business Partners
    • Professional Partners
    • Family Resource Partners
    • Staff Appreciation
    • Trivia Night
  • Community Speaker Series
  • Donate

We Welcome you to learn more about The D181 Foundation

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highlights 2021/2022

Extending Learning

We developed, funded, and delivered these programs for students that all happened outside of the school day:   

Young Writers – Anything is Possible, Student Interview Webinars,  D181 Student Art Exhibit, KIDS Grants

Enhancing Curriculum

The District 181 Foundation partners with District 181 to support programs for students and teachers that supplement and enhance the curriculum at all schools. The 2021/2022 programs included:  Got STEM 181?, Multi-School Speakers & Programs for Students,  Educator Grants, Summer Professional Development Grants, The Danny Riehle Living Classroom  Learning Lab, Math Assistance Hotline, SELAS/Cultural Empathy Programs, and Tech Ambassadors.

Building Community

Helping others support students is an important objective for the District 181 Foundation. This year we continued to support the very popular Community Speaker Series and began development on a Community Connection database to give community members a tool for sharing their expertise with students.

About Us

Mission

Mission

Mission

To inspire community involvement, pride, and support for the exceptional education provided to all District 181 students.

Vision

Mission

Mission

Be a valuable catalyst, partnering with District 181 and the community, to encourage and support creativity, innovation and excellence in education for all students.

Funding

Mission

Funding

The District 181 Foundation receives all of its funding through donations from families, individuals and businesses in our local communities. We receive no tax or government funds. 

Serving the District 181 Community

 

The District 181 Foundation delivers programming and resources to all members of the District 181 community, enriching and enhancing our excellent educational system. Nationally renowned speakers, student enrichment programs such as; The Young Writers Program, an after-school homework assistance hotline, community service grants for students, and professional development opportunities for teachers are just a few of the programs provided this year. Each year the District 181 Foundation continues to grow and innovate in collaboration with our community. 


History


In 1996, the Board of Education of District 181 directed a year-long study to assess the feasibility of establishing a foundation for the school district.  A committee of staff members and citizens studied the issue and determined that a foundation was viable and could offer significant value to District 181 and the community. 

The District 181 Foundation was formally established in 1997 and incorporated in 1999 as an independent 501(c)(3) organization to support initiatives that benefit students across District 181 which are not or cannot be funded by tax revenues. 

Since its inception, the District 181 Foundation has invested over $1,500,000 in District 181 schools.


About District 181


District 181 is located in the western suburbs of Chicago, IL, serving the communities of Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Oak Brook, Burr Ridge, and Willowbrook. It is a K-8 public school district educating nearly 4,000 students with seven elementary schools and two middle schools. 


District 181 Schools


CHMS  HMS  Elm  The Lane  Madison Monroe  Oak  Prospect  Walker




Board Members

Erin Bielski               

John Bielski               

Julie Boruff*               

Bridget DeMartino*  

Andrea Flynn            

Mirdu Garg                  

Aaron Gin                     

Kelly Kirchheimer     

John Haarlow            

Michelle Lipman        

Dana Martin                 

Megan Mikhail

Maureen Miks

Heena Musabji

Tom Norton

Dave Pequet*

Dave Ricordati

Neeraj Sahni

Deepti Shenoi

usan Wilson*

Lisa Winchell


*Executive Board


​​​​Executive Director
Meg Cooper


Board of Education Representatives
Sheetal Rao


D181 Administration Representatives

Kathy Robinson


D181 Teacher Representative

Heather Scott

Amanda Campbell


    

Learn More about District 181

Significant initiatives

For over 20 years, the D181 Foundation has invested in and developed innovative and inspiring initiatives that support District 181's goals and bring important learning opportunities to all District 181 students. Below are some of the highlights:

Applied Technology Labs

Community Speaker Series

Community Speaker Series

In anticipation of the opening of CHMS, the Foundation provided half of the funding necessary to create the Applied Technology Labs at both middle schools. That investment resulted in D181 becoming one of the first K-8 districts in the state to offer an applied technology program.

Community Speaker Series

Community Speaker Series

Community Speaker Series

Since 2013, the Foundation has helps to sponsor   

nationally renowned experts who inform and inspire families in the K-12 community about important issues in education, wellness, and parenting.

WWII Memories Video

Community Speaker Series

WWII Memories Video

In 2006, recognizing that future students would not be able to hear first-person accounts of WWII, the  Foundation funded a video of the middle school WWII Day speakers. The result was not just a teaching resource for students, but a treasure for the entire community.

Living Classroom

Professional Development

WWII Memories Video

The Foundation currently supports the Danny Riehle Living Classroom Learning Lab. Past initiatives have included gardens at elementary schools and the purchase of microscopes. 

Professional Development

Professional Development

Professional Development

We believe that a powerful way to impact student learning is to provide teachers with learning opportunities that help them grow as educators. Foundation funding has included Institute Day speaker fees, group training for incorporating technology into the curriculum,  courses to improve inquiry-based learning teaching techniques, and  grants for teachers to participate in summer classes and conferences.

STEM

Professional Development

Professional Development

The Foundation has been an active supporter of bringing STEM opportunities to the district. We run the Got STEM? and Tech Ambassador programs. We offer inquiry- based training for teachers and financially supported the pilot program for 1 to 1 computing. 

Student Art Show

CHMS Wind Turbine

CHMS Wind Turbine

Every year the Foundation sponsors a districtwide display of student art work, celebrating our districts commitment to the arts. 

CHMS Wind Turbine

CHMS Wind Turbine

CHMS Wind Turbine

The Foundation purchased the CHMS Wind Turbine in 2010. Students were actively involved in the planning and the turbine offers enhanced science class experience with real-time data. 

Young Writers

CHMS Wind Turbine

Young Writers

The Foundation brings a unique writing experience to the district each year. Writers are given an opportunity to explore poetry, short stories, essays and more!

Financial Statements

The District 181 Foundation fiscal year is July 1 - June 30.
Tax ID Number: 36-4259388

D181 Foundation 2020 Form 990 Public Version (pdf)Download

The Foundation in Action

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