ABC/25 Foundation

Granting Inspiration to Forward Education

Congratulations to the 2023-2024 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 55 grant applications. We were able to fund 34 of those grants so that a total of $36,360.33 was distributed to all 9 schools! See the list of winners below and click here see more details on all funded grants.

Dryden Grant Winners

  1. Maria Goldstein for Osmo for the Win! (K-5) 10 Osmo Genius starter kits
  2. Rachel Wilson & Zachary Sobota for Flexible Seating/Table Options (4) couch, ball chairs, dry erase tables, lap desks
  3. Beth Kovacic for What’s Your Story? (K-5) update biography section of the library with new, relevant, and diverse titles
  4. Yolanda Bolithon for Bilingual Books in Russian & Ukrainian for ML Classroom (K-5)
  5. Kathy Riesing for When I Grow Up I Want to Be…(K-1) dress-up costumes

Greenbrier Grant Winners

  1. Linda Pelczynski for Wow, This Learning is Fun! (1) dry erase contact peel and stick paper to turn an ordinary teacher small group table into a creative, fun, and engaging work surface
  2. Stephanie Stratton & Beth Hornberg for Supporting Multilingual Learners (K-5) variety of games and hands-on engaging activities to promote English Language Development
  3. Jennifer Lynn for Lego Baseboard Request (1-5) two 12-packs of Lego-compatible baseboards

Ivy Hill Grant Winners

  1. Mini Radhakrishnan for Igniting Curiosity in Classrooms Using Dash Robots (K-5) Dash robot 12 pack, launcher accessory 12 pack
  2. Julie Salski for Sensational Safe Sensory Space (K-5) sensory materials
  3. Antonella Parisi for Decodable Book Sets for Intervention (K-3)

Olive-Mary Stitt Grant Winners

  1. Lindsay Fraser for Fantastic Flexibility (4) lap desks, floor cushions, stability wobble cushions
  2. Brenda Stevens for Stand By Me (1-5) adjustable height standing desks with writable tempered glass desktop
  3. Antonella Parisi for Decodable Book Sets for Intervention (K-3)
  4. Erin Davis for Playground Inclusive Communication Board (K-5)

Patton Grant Winners

  1. Elizabeth Gabianelli & Stacy Hemmer for Exploring Cultures and Heritages Through Literature (K-5) a collection of 75 books housed in multicultural classroom
  2. Danielle Hiller for Flexibility for Inclusive Learning (1-2) floor seats with backs for supports
  3. Casey Whitaker for Recorder Who? Strike Up the Ukulele Band!(4-5) classroom set of ukuleles
  4. Stacy Hemmer for Paws and Pages: Bringing Dog Breeds to Our Young Readers (K-5) replace & update well-loved dog breed books

South Grant Winners

  1. Kenneth Cook for Drum Roll Please… (6-8) drum set
  2. Cheryl Demeter for Supporting Our Budding Videographers and Filmmakers (7-8) camcorders
  3. Wes Skym for Mic Check Part 2 (6-8) wireless microphones, boom stands & clips, antennas

Thomas Grant Winners

  1. Carolyn Taylor & Eileen Stocco for Human Heart Models to Foster Innovation in Science Classroom (7) 15 life-size and anatomically accurate human heart models
  2. Rebecca Fahnoe for Books Beyond Borders (6-8) ten multi-lingual books
  3. Sandra Trost Vliet for Teaching Through Nature: School Soil-Mates Garden Club (6-8) raised garden beds repair, planting materials, gardening equipment, bench for sensory garden. 
  4. Piper Boston for Let’s Cook Up Some Lego Stop Motion (6-8) Legos of specific colors to be placed in separate kits for specific Lego cooking videos for recreation, bins, accessories, hue cameras
  5. Piper Boston for Sound Check! Quiet Please! (6-8) studio room microphone, portable microphones, recording microphone isolation shields
  6. Piper Boston for Supporting our Budding Videographers and Filmmakers (7-8) camcorders
  7. Wes Skym for Mic Check Part 2 (6-8) wireless microphones, boom stands & clips, antennas

Westgate Grant Winners

  1. Lisa Smorczewski for S’More Math Fun for Mini-Mathematicians (K-2) variety of math games and materials for workshop stations
  2. Lauren Cory for Math Games (1) variety of math games and tools for workshop stations
  3. Amy Arce for Nurturing Number Sense (K-5) math manipulatives like digiblocks and bead strings
  4. Kaitlyn Gries for Sensory Support for Kindergarten Students (K) fine motor tools
  5. Kaitlyn Gries for Imagine–Who Do You Want to Be? (K) dress-up costumes & storage rack

Windsor Grant Winners

  1. Kristen Clark, Michelle Conway, Amy McEllen, Shannon Sobanski for Improving Reading Skills with Engaging Games (3) grab and play reading games
  2. Kristina Krueger, Meghan McLaughlin, Kristin Kaiser, Julie Paxson, Lea Samartino, Jen Schmidt, Kelly Wiest, Alyssa Floro, Lisa Swedo, Laura Como, Christina Dastice for Flexible Seating for Small Group Instruction (K-2) wave seats
  3. Kristina Krueger for SEL Support Through Little Spots (1) Little Spot of Feelings book series