Attending donation of $50,000 to College Primarily based Well being Middle at Might 2 Dist. 207 board assembly have been (from l. to r.) basis board treasurer Kelly Foersterling, Sandy Deines, Susan Yangar, Eldon Burk, Mary Kalou, and Supt. Ken Wallace. (Photograph submitted)
The Maine Township Excessive College Basis introduced a $50,000 verify for the district’s College Primarily based Well being Middle in the course of the Might 2 Dist. 207 Board of Training assembly.
The College Primarily based Well being Middle, situated contained in the Maine East Excessive College in Park Ridge, is a collaboration between the district and the close by Advocate Lutheran Common Hospital, offering major care to all district college students who don’t have a physician to go to. Basis officers mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic threw the significance of major care into sharp aid, which is why they set a very bold fundraising objective. They felt that the middle took on extra significance as teen refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine settle within the Northwest suburbs.
Because the identify suggests, Maine Township Excessive College Basis raises cash for district applications, together with the well being middle. Eldon Burk, basis member, former board of schooling member and a retired Maine West assistant principal, mirrored that the inspiration normally “struggled simply to get $5,000,” which is why they have been impressed that they have been in a position to increase almost 10 instances as a lot.
He mentioned that one of many main functions of the well being middle is to assist immigrant households who should not accustomed to the American healthcare programs and should not have the appropriate immunizations get into faculties.
Sandy Deines, basis board member and a retired Dist. 207 trainer, mentioned that they have been additionally impressed with the work the well being middle did in the course of the pandemic.
“We now have seen how a lot they care,” she mentioned, including that the quantity of donations that poured in was “actually an emblem of the regard our neighborhood has for our college students.”
Basis board chair Susan Yadgar mentioned that their unique objective was extra modest, however seeing how nicely they have been doing, they determined to “push somewhat additional.”
“The fervour, the dedication of people that work at these well being facilities was evident to us,” she mentioned. “College students can’t do nicely in school rooms or past except their bodily and psychological well being being is taken care of.”
Board of schooling member Teri Collins mentioned that the inspiration deserves credit score for elevating as a lot cash as they did.
“I simply need to say — you rock,” she mentioned. “All you guys do. I actually really feel that the vitality and the keenness that comes from you has projected onto the neighborhood, and you bought everyone excited.”
Burk, on his half, thanked the board of schooling.
“We do all we will to fundraise, we’ve got grants from the state, however with out the assist of board, it wouldn’t occur,” he mentioned.
“It’s actually wonderful how beneficiant this neighborhood is,” Deines informed the Journal after the assembly. “Not all donations have been massive donations, however, , there have been many, many donors that put us within the place to have the ability to give that a lot cash away.”
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