ABC/25 Foundation

Granting Inspiration to Forward Education

Please check back in January to see the grants awarded for the 2025-2026 school year.

2024-2025 Teacher Grant Winners!

ALL 9 AHSD25 SCHOOLS WON A GRANT!

During the first semester of every school year, one parent liaison from each school blindly votes on grant applications submitted by AHSD25 teachers and staff based on how relevant they are to the district’s curriculum and the mission of the ABC/25 Foundation, “to foster innovation, creativity, and excellence for the children of District 25.” 

This year, the ABC/25 Foundation received 39 grant applications. We were able to fund 27 of those grants so that a total of $29,078.56 was distributed to all 9 schools! See the list of winners below and click here to see more details on all funded grants.

Dryden Grant Winners

  1. Yolanda Bolithon & Susan Menel for Bilingual Talking Dictionaries for Newcomers (K-5) Three talking dictionaries: Spanish/English, Ukrainian/English, Russian/English
  2. Maria Goldstein for “Dash” into Coding (K-5) six dash robots and a gripper building kit
  3. Beth Kovacic & Hannah Fiedler for Keeping Fiction Fabulous (K-5) new fiction books and replacing well-loved, worn-out books

So much great problem-solving at our first meeting of the Dryden Coding Club! Very grateful to @ABC25Foundation for the lovable Dash robots💕. Thank you for the assist, @DrSamartino ☺️. @DrydenSchool @MrsMartini3rd @ahsd25 @dasilvanews pic.twitter.com/ukIBEOe7py

Greenbrier Grant Winners

  1. Katherine Brower for Fiber Lesson Materials (2-5) felt, tacky glue, sewing needles, stuffing, sewing scissors, burlap, and yarn, all for weaving, learn-to-sew, and sew own stuffed animal projects

Ivy Hill Grant Winners

  1. Emily Eisenhuth for Hands-On Math Centers (K) variety of math center materials to enhance number sense, shape recognition, measurement, and foundational addition/subtraction skills
  2. Julie Salski for Tablet Fun for Everyone! (K-5) six 16-inch and six 10-inch drawing/writing tablets and tablet holders for reading and math

Olive-Mary Stitt Grant Winners

  1. Erin Davis for Swinging into Regulation (K-5) two different sensory swings to be hung from ceiling in new sensory classroom
  2. Lindsay Fraser for Woman of the World (4) variety of biography books on influential women in history

Patton Grant Winners

  1. Lindsay Arndt & Allison Anderle for Sounding Off – Podcasting at Patton (K-5) beginner podcast studio equipment
  2. Lindsay Arndt, Jennifer Leigh, Shannon Jedd, Amy Johnson, Amanda Vincent, and Mary Goumas for 3D Printing in a 3D World (K-5) Dremel 3D45-EDU Printer Kit
  3. Stacy Hemmer & Shannon Kownick for Who Would Win? Sports Book Grant (K-5) Who Would Win? Sports book series that compares careers of various athletes in a head-to-head format
  4. Jacqulyn Levin for Elite Hoop Disc Target Set for Elementary PE Students (K-5) set of 9 hoop targets for PE
  5. Monique Weber & Barb Donahue for Purposeful Play for All at Indoor Recess (K-5) toys and building/engineering STEM kits, which encourage collaborative, open-ended, purposeful play
  6. Casey Whitaker for Mic Drop! (Actually, Please Do Not Drop the Mics) (K-5) two wireless handheld and lavalier microphones with receivers
  7. Kelly Wiest, Anne Rough, Julie Cowen, Robin McEwen, Amy Heisler, Patricia Litberg, Timothy Morkert, Stephanie Koenig, Mary Gerbatsch, Lindsay Arndt, Stacie Pacini, Karen Pullam, and Danielle Hiller for Grade-Level Multicultural Library (K-4) 135 children’s books for representing and celebrating diversity to be divided among 5 shared libraries across grades K-4

Patton’s tech facilitator, Lindsay Arndt, put together this video showcasing some of the grant recipients

South Grant Winners

  1. Cheryl Demeter for Podcast Palooza (6-8) podcasting microphones, mic stands, boom arms, headphones, and audio interface with headphone splitter/amplifier
  2. Wes Skym for Mic Check Part 3 (6-8) four antenna splitters

Thank you for the new and improved podcasting equipment! @ABC25Foundation @ahsd25 @SMSCrArts pic.twitter.com/2CX4zIgGH

Thomas Grant Winners

  1. Dana Fortunato for Spanish Class Library (6-8) a variety of Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling Spanish recreational reading books for the classroom
  2. Sandra Vliet for Garden Alchemy: Cultivating a Climate of Creativity and Innovation Through Environmental Education: Soil-Mates Garden Club (6-8) funding educational/gardening supplies/tools/programs and repairs for the school gardens

Westgate Grant Winners

  1. Jennifer Carney for You Are the Boss of Your Brain! (K-5) Light Up the Learning Brain School Leader Starter Kit, an educational toolkit that fosters a trauma-sensitive, brain-based approach to education
  2. Lauren Cory for Phonics Fun! (1) phonics games, sound wall, literacy manipulatives/tools, timers, and storage
  3. Adam Mead for A Sound Investment: Modern Sound Equipment for Westgate’s Music (K-5) upgraded sound equipment, including a digital mixer, Bluetooth receiver, portable rack with wheels, and cables for microphones
  4. David Peterson for “Dash into Coding” (K-5) six dash robots and a gripper building kit
  5. Westgate Kindergarten Team for Dramatic Play Market for Kindergarteners (K) dramatic play market with coffee shop, bakery, and ice cream supplies

Windsor Grant Winners

  1. Allison Keough, Lindsay Anastacio, Melanie Soprano, Anna Klaw, Colleen Higgins, Ryan Freese, Mike Pupillo, Laura Angelus, Kelli Blau, Amy Harder, Kristen Ikezawa, Jennifer Schmidt, Lea Samartino, Audrey Baumeister, Abby Wendell, Amy Reed, Jenny Scapillato, and Dana McAndrew for Empowering Young Readers: Making Reading Accessible to All Children with Adapted Books (K-5) 231 books, adapted book PDF files, organization bins and pouches, card stock, velcro. Adapted books include the story and the moveable pieces with velcro for students to better comprehend and engage with the stories.
  2. Amy Reed for Reaching All Readers Through Combined Print and Audio Books (K-5) sixteen books, including picture books, early reader chapter books, middle grade chapter books, bilingual Spanish book, and a graphic novel where students can listen and read along at the same time
  3. Camille Ziemann for Uke Can Impact Student Learning (4-5) a classroom set of soprano ukuleles and a storage cart