Foundation Created to Raise Private Dollars for CCSD66

A group of caring and committed citizens have come together to form a foundation to support Center Cass School District 66. TEAM 66 Education Foundation (TEAM 66) has announced their focus to enhance community support and to expand resources that enrich teaching, inspire learning, and maximize opportunities for all students in Center Cass School District 66.

The sole purpose of the newly formed Education Foundation is to benefit Center Cass School District 66 by providing funds for educational programs and activities, which are not funded by the normal operating budget. These funds will be used to facilitate student achievement and skill development, to recognize and encourage staff excellence and to expand community involvement from individuals, businesses and civic organizations.Funding priorities will also include funds for innovative teaching grants that will provide resources directly to the classroom for teachers to implement exciting new educational programs. TEAM 66 is currently working on establishing the process for the teaching grants. It is their goal to have applications ready for teachers and staff participation by the beginning of next school year.

Tim Arnold, Superintendent of CCSD66 welcomed the upcoming support from the Foundation by saying "Center Cass School District 66 is excited to have a partner like TEAM 66 Education Foundation to enhance the educational opportunities for our Press Release students. I have been consistently impressed by the efforts of a number of dedicated community members who have been committed to seeing this foundation come to fruition. The Board of Education understands the benefits an educational foundation will bring to Center Cass and how their efforts will compliment the fundraising efforts that already exist within the District."

TEAM 66 Education Foundation is an independent non-profit organization under the Internal Revenue Service section 501 (c)(3) and contributions to the organization are tax deductible. According to Kayla Klein, TEAM 66 President, “the idea for the foundation grew from a need for supplemental funds and awareness of a growing number of education foundations serving Illinois school districts.” Dr. Milli Christner of Foundation Innovation, a firm which specializes in developing foundations which has helped TEAM 66,shared her experience in stating that “following in the footsteps of public universities and colleges, K12 school districts and their local communities are establishing their own foundations to leverage private dollars and expand opportunities for their teachers and students.”

“TEAM 66’s Founding Board of Directors is dedicated to our community and education excellence in our school district. I am proud to be a part of this collective effort to support and enhance the tools available to the district,” states Kayla Klein. “We are very excited that community members have organized to help attract private funds to benefit our schools,” she added. Board members include: Kayla Klein, President; Laurie Olsen, Vice President of Development; Kate Scheck, Vice President of Programs; Bill Flynn, Vice President of Finance and Governance; Lindsey Murray, Vice President of Communications;Cynthia Repole, Secretary; Maureen Gibbons, Chris Esposito, Mark Huang, Marty Wronkewicz, Marcelo Alvarez, and Judi Swain. Ex Officio members include: Tim Arnold,Superintendent of CCSD66; Sue Armato, President of CCSD66 Board of Education, and Jake Little, Vice President of CCEA.