Project Access

Imagine being a 16-year-old with a single mom that has a chronic health condition.  When Mom can work, she works minimum wage jobs and doesn’t make enough to pay a down payment, security deposit, and monthly rent to be able to house her family.  Every night the family checks into a different church to get a bite to eat and sleep on a cot.  When morning comes, “Caleb” packs up his few belongings and goes to school.   School is the only stable thing in Caleb’s life.   

At school, there are two meals, trusted adults, and music.  Caleb is an accomplished musician and has played the saxophone since the 5^th grade.  He is dedicated to being in the band at school.   Music keeps him “sane.”

Through the generosity of donors and through the McKinney Vento Federal Homeless Education Act, Project Access in U-46 helps children, like Caleb, enroll, attend, and succeed in school, giving homeless students the same access to an education that other children may take for granted. 

Your support also means that kids like Caleb can continue doing the things they love, like playing in the school band.  

In 2019, roughly 2% of U-46 students experienced homelessness.  In a district our size, that translates to over 750 students. You can make a donation today to Project Access by clicking the button below.   When prompted, "I would like my donation to go towards...," be sure to indicate "Project Access." On behalf of Caleb and all students experiencing homelessness, thank you. 

Larkin Alumnus Dedicates Gift to Teacher

Larry Phillips (pictured above) was the choral director at Larkin High School from 1972 until 1992.   When he started at Larkin, he had big dreams for his students, and even bigger plans for the choral department.   

Under Mr. Phillips' direction, the Concert Choir performed on WGN TV; produced their own record of Christmas music; and toured in Europe.   In 1976, the 65-voice choir performed at the White House during a Spring Break trip that included performances in New York, Philadelphia, and the nation's capital.   

Keith Trimmer, Larkin High School Class of 1974, has fond memories of Mr. Phillips and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that he had because of him.  He vividly remembers the trip the choir took to Europe.   Mr. Trimmer told the Foundation that his parents could not afford the trip, but through fundraising (they sold toothbrushes!) and Mr. Phillips' dedication to making the trip a reality for all of his students, Keith was able to go. 

As a testimony of his gratitude towards his teacher, Mr. Phillips, and a desire to make sure future Larkin choral students get similar life-changing opportunities, Mr. Trimmer decided to make a substantial planned gift to the U-46 Educational Foundation.   Through this gift, the legacy of a teacher who impacted so many students will live on and so will the choral program at Larkin High School.  

Without a doubt, Mr. Phillips would be pleased.

The U-46 Educational Foundation Legacy Society

With this planned gift, Keith Trimmer joins the U-46 Educational Foundation's Legacy Society.  Follow this link and click "Join the Legacy Society" to find out more!

Thank You EFS Foundation!

The EFS Foundation began in 1998 as a charitable arm of Elgin Financial Savings Bank.  Since it's inception, the EFS Foundation has given away over $21 million to charities and nonprofit agencies in the Elgin community.  

Over the years, the U-46 Educational Foundation has been the grateful recipient of many grants from the EFS Foundation, to fund things such as District-wide science fairs; TalentFest, the District-wide talent show; and heart rate monitors for use in physical education classes. 

After over two decades of serving the community, the EFS Foundation chose to disband.  They split their remaining assets among many deserving groups, including a parting gift of $50,000 to the U-46 Educational Foundation, ensuring that the Foundation will be able to continue to serve U-46 students and schools for years to come.   

The U-46 Educational Foundation would like to express our sincere gratitude to the EFS Foundation Board of Directors, especially Board President, Randy Brittain.  Thank you for believing in us!  And thank you for your support. 

Watch us grow!

Every year the U-46 Educational Foundation grows by leaps and bounds, and it is all thanks to the caring, compassionate groups and individuals, like you, who support our mission and want to see great things for U-46 students and schools!  

Our Board recently reviewed our numbers from the 2019/2020 school year, and we saw tremendous growth in new donors, but even more significant was the impact your donations are making in U-46.

Thanks to your support, over $141,000 was invested directly in U-46 students and schools last year alone through scholarships and grants!!!  That is the highest one-year amount the Foundation has ever invested in U-46 since its incorporation in 2007.  

Our 2019/2020 donors can be found on our website.   Please take a look.   If you know a business, group, or individual on this list, let them know how much you appreciate their investment in the future of U-46.  If you're on the list, thank you!  You're making a difference in our schools with your support.   We cannot say it enough - thank you for believing in the potential of U-46.   Thank you for investing in our schools. 

Together, we are all building a brighter future for our students, our schools, and our community.