District 99 Education Foundation Hosts Homecoming Events for South, North High Schools

The District 99 Education Foundation will hold two homecoming socials in the coming days to celebrate the homecomings of both Downers Grove high schools.

The events will be held at Friday, Sept. 28, for South's homecoming, and Friday, Oct. 5, for North. Both socials will run from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Downers Grove Moose Lodge, 1030 Warren Ave., where the schools' football games will be screened live.

The socials will include pizza from Skuddlebutts, wings from Lemon Tree Grocer, popcorn from the Tivoli Theatre and a shuttle bus from the alumni tent to the Moose. 

The complete schedule for both schools' homecomings is as follows:

• 3 p.m. - Homecoming parade
• 5:30 p.m. - Sophomore football game
• 6 p.m. - Tour of the school (meet in main lobby)
• 7 p.m. - Varsity game
• 7 p.m. to midnight - Social at the Moose; shuttle available to and from stadium

Tickets for the Moose social are $25 and are limited; they may be ordered by sending an email to president@d99ef.org. All proceeds will benefit the District 99 Education Foundation.

Downers Grove Commissioner Geoff Neustadt, who grew up and is raising his family in Downers Grove, said he hopes the socials become tradition for District 99 alumni and their families.

“Many people in our community who grew up here are now raising their own families here,” Neustadt said. “We hope that the upcoming events at the Moose will turn into an annual tradition and become a destination for graduates of all classes.”

Neustadt and fellow Commissioner Sean Patrick Durkin are serving this year as the first ever “alumni ambassadors" for the District 99 Education Foundation.

Neustadt, a 1993 graduate of North High School, and Durkin, a 1988 graduate of South High School, were enlisted to foster communications with alumni members and reconnect them to the schools, as well as get the word out about foundation events.

Eric Olson, president of the District 99 Education Foundation, said the organization is currently working on establishing an alumni association for both high schools. Having two prominent alumni sign on was the perfect way to kick off the campaign, he said.

"One great thing about Downers Grove is that many alumni will come back to Downers Grove to raise their families and become part of the community," Olson said. "We wanted to tap into that energy."

READ: Downers Grove Commissioners Serve as 'Alumni Ambassadors' to District 99 Education Foundation

The District 99 Education Foundation was founded in 1994 as a way for alumni, parents, educators and the Downers Grove community to support "innovative curriculum and technologies that fall outside of traditional public funding." For more information, visit www.d99ef.org.

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