District 54 recognized the following five organizations as 2023 District 54 Super Partners at the annual Partnership Breakfast on November 15, 2023. A District 54 Super Partner is defined as a business, organization or individual that has provided extraordinary support to a school or district-level department over the years.
Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle has a long standing partnership with Enders-Salk Elementary School. Through a large annual donation, they have sponsored the Breakfast Program for the 7th year in a row. They supported the creation of the Enders-Salk Garden and continue to support the Garden Club by volunteering on Harvest Day and Planting Day, with a goal of educating students on the importance of healthy nutrition and fiber. They volunteer as judges for the science fair, providing feedback and support to over 120 projects each year. Around the holidays, they fundraise to provide gift cards or gifts for families. This year they are also hosting a company-wide toy drive.
The Hoffman Estates Mayor’s Office
The Hoffman Estates Mayor’s Office has proven time and time again to be a valuable resource and support system for the students, families and staff at Muir Elementary School. Not only do they provide direct support through monetary donations, winter clothing drives and volunteering, they also help facilitate several community partnerships that have benefitted Muir students including school supplies and backpacks. When speaking about the Hoffman Estates Mayor’s Office, Muir behavior coach Kim Miller quoted Harvard professor Ellen Langer “There is always a step small enough from where we are to get us to where we want to be. If we take that small step, there’s always another we can take, and eventually, a goal thought to be too far to reach becomes achievable.” Kim expressed that the Mayor’s Office has brought all of their “far-fetched” goals to reality.
Harvest Community Church
In addition to the Hoffman Estates Mayor’s Office, Muir Elementary School is also grateful to have Harvest Community Church as a partner. Church members have helped lead the creation of Muir’s first Winter Wonderland Market, scheduled for December 9 (which originally was a way in the future goal). This event will make it possible for all Muir students and their families to receive gifts this holiday season, creating magic and spreading happiness throughout the community. In addition to facilitating multiple toy drives to supply the market, Harvest will also provide volunteers to help with inventory, child care, personal shopping and gift wrapping.
Mike Agruss Law
The core focus of Mike Agruss Law is “People, First.” So it is of no surprise that their partnership with Mead Junior High started because Mike Agruss attorney and partner, Taylor Unterberg, reached out wanting to give back to her home district. Since then, Mike Agruss Law has partnered with Mead Junior High School for three “Mead and Greets” events to provide nearly 200 backpacks with school supplies, water bottles, free legal advice, and a pizza dinner to make sure students and their families are supported to start the school year off on the right foot. In December of 2022, Mike and Taylor expanded their partnership to sponsor a holiday giveaway for students, donating holiday gifts, winter coats, hats, gloves, canned goods and pantry staples. In addition, they adopted several Mead families as part of their Family Giving Tree program last year to provide holiday gifts to families in need. They have committed to do the same again this holiday season.
The Home Depot of Elk Grove Village
The Home Depot of Elk Grove Village has gone above and beyond for the students and staff at Stevenson Elementary School. They have collected and distributed school supplies to students, donated holiday decorations for various school events and have generously donated their time to support the Stevenson Community. The team at Home Depot are proud to serve with their “orange hearts” and it is apparent in their work to start up the Stevenson Garden and support the garden club, as well as their donation of a tree to be planted by students in celebration of Autism Acceptance Month. They continually spread happiness and ensure the learning spaces of Stevenson are beautiful!
In addition to these Super Partners, District 54 also welcomed and honored over 300 community partners at the 2023 Partnership Breakfast. Mead Student Ambassadors connected with guests, thanking them for their support and getting them excited for the morning’s event as they escorted them to the gym. As community partners entered the space and mingled, they enjoyed the sweet sounds of the Eisenhower Junior High School Orchestra. District 54 Board of Education Secretary, Debbie Schmidt, reflected on her first Partnership Breakfast as a rotarian member compared to now, honored to be able to express gratitude to everyone in the room on behalf of the District and Board of Education. District 54 Education Foundation Chairman, Andy Murray, shared that his “why” for joining the Foundation can be accredited to the wonderful work of the teachers, social workers and administration in supporting his son throughout his years at District 54, and expressed the importance of supporting students, staff and families in any way possible. We honored five organizations as 2023 District 54 Super Partners – an annual award given to those that have provided extraordinary support to a school or district department over the years (read more about these partners in tomorrow’s post!). The Schaumburg Education Association and Schaumburg Educational Employees Organization presented a $1,850 donation to the District 54 Food Pantries, and everyone enjoyed the funky, spirited tunes of the District 54 Jazz Band to close out the morning.
