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Friday, March 29, 2024

Gift keeps Indian Prairie Education Foundation geared up to reach $55,000 goal

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Above / Indian Prairie Education Foundation Chairman of the Board Kent Duncan, First Community Financial Bank-Naperville Market President Lou Petritz, FCFB Assistant Vice President Mike Thiel, IPEF Director Rana Khan and IPEF Executive Director Susan Rasmus participated in the presentation of a check to support the IPEF STEM Campaign.

On Nov. 12, First Community Financial Bank-Naperville presented a gift of $2,500 to the Indian Prairie Education Foundation in support of its IPEF STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Campaign in School District 204. The gift put the campaign over $20,000, close to 50 percent of the $55,000 goal.

The community is welcome to take part of a unique fundraising opportunity where “every $1 donated becomes $3, thanks to a 2 for 1 Challenge from the Dunham Fund,” said Indian Prairie Education Foundation Chairman of the Board Kent Duncan, during a check presentation at the bank located in Naperville Plaza.

Gifts of any size will help support STEM initiatives in Indian Prairie School District 204. Every dollar donated (up to $55,000) will be matched with two dollars from the Dunham Fund.

Working in partnership with IPSD 204, the goal is to raise a total of $165,000 to be used toward projects planned in the 2015-16 school year.

To date, the Indian Prairie Educational Fund has raised $21,551 for the match, according to IPEF Director Rana Khan.

“We are so pleased that the First Community Bank donation put us over $20,000 and close to 50 percent of our $55,000 goal,” said Khan.

“As a Community Bank we are proud to partner with the IPEF, a growing foundation with an increasingly positive impact on the students of school district 204, and we are especially excited about the matching grant from the Dunham Foundation which effectively triples this donation,” said First Community Financial Bank-Naperville Market President Lou Petritz. ” This is a great example of the kind of collaboration between multiple local organizations that we see often in our community.”

Robotics_8788Robotics

According to its website, IPEF has provided funding during the past three years to introduce and support robotics at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Last year 36 robotics teams were able to compete, with one placing in the Final Four at Nationals. Dollars raised will help maintain and expand robotics to additional schools throughout the district.

Computer Coding

High demand and positive reviews from students following last year’s middle school coding club pilot led to the decision to expand coding opportunities. Additional clubs will be added and teachers will begin the work of embedding computer coding into middle and high school curriculum.

Project Lead the Way

Last year more than 3,500 students were enrolled in Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses. This challenging national engineering program increases 21st Century skills to help better prepare students to compete in the global marketplace. Funds will be used to continue staff training, enhance instruction, engage more students and grow dual credit options.

All gifts welcome

Members of the District 204 community and the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation are mindful it will take many contributions to reach their $55,000 goal in order to take full advantage of the Dunham 2 for 1 Challenge.

All individuals are welcome to consider making a gift to the IPEF STEM Campaign.  Every contribution will be matched x 2 by the Dunham Fund with dollars going toward STEM education enrichment.

For more information, visit IPEF STEM Campaign.

Robotic Video

“The video is a really fun video to watch if you have a few minutes,” added Khan.  “Please feel free to share with others!”

Gifts of any size are appreciated and can be mailed to Indian Prairie Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 3990, Naperville, IL 60567. Include “IPEF STEM Campaign” in the check memo to designate the desire for the donation to be tripled by the Dunham Fund.

Donations also are accepted securely online at IPEF STEM Campaign.

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PN Editor
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