IMPACT NEWSLETTER
November 2021
President's Message
Happy Fall! This is the time of year that many people ask how they can help support the work that we do to provide assistance, opportunities and experiences for our PPS students and staff. Check out the message below from PPS Foundation President, Cindy Morris, for what you can do to help!
Join us for our Annual 365 Breakfast!
We are excited for our annual 365 Breakfast!

This year's event will be similar to last year with a drive-through breakfast pickup and a virtual program live streamed later that morning. This event provides vital funding for our programs that support Peoria Public Schools!

So SAVE the DATE and look for more information to come.
Please contact [email protected] for more information on sponsoring this event.
2021-22 Classroom Grant Program

We are excited to announce that we were able to fund 26 classroom grant projects and 4 STEM grant projects this school year. Thank you so much to the Murray and Rena Yeoman Fund and the Peoria NEXT Foster Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois for their generosity in helping to fund these grants!

Also, CONGRATULATIONS to all the recipients! These staff members have amazing ideas to provide engagement and learning opportunities for their students. We are looking forward to seeing their grant funds in action in the coming months.

Check out the pictures of the recipients below and be sure to tell them congrats if you see them around!
Not pictured: Michael Bowen, Courtney Lee, and Michael Suau

Please check our website for an update on pictures as they come in!
Adopt-A-School Program:
Making the Grade Conference Sign-Up 
 
Mentors are needed to meet with 6th grade students at 7 schools to discuss their grades and talk about goals for finishing up the semester strong. Mentoring in this way is an opportunity for the students to talk with a caring adult about their experience in the classroom and receive advice on how to excel in and out of the classroom and not fall thru the cracks. 
 
Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. You are more than welcome to sign up for multiple schools. 
Questions? Contact our Adopt-A-School Coordinator, Sarah Oakford, at [email protected]
Horizons Program:
Fall Career Speaking Opportunities Available
If you have any questions about being a career speaker, please contact Trish O’Shaughnessy at [email protected] 
We recently received a $4,000 grant from the Women's Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois to pilot a girls mentorship program at Harrison Community Learning Center this school year. This program will help girls strengthen their personal, social and emotional skills through small groups, role playing, guest speakers, vison boarding and other activities. Thank you to the Women's Fund! We are so excited about this opportunity.
Check Out the Latest Buzz Chat Video!
Last month, Cindy Morris chatted with Peoria Public Schools Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum/Instruction and Executive Director for High Schools, Dr. Sandra Wilson. Check out the latest video below.

Each month we will be connecting with different members of our community to talk about our public schools and how they interact with current events in Peoria. All chats can be viewed live on our Facebook page on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM. Not able to catch it live? No problem, the videos will stay posted on our page so scroll through to watch any you missed.
Our November HERO is the Director of Buildings and Grounds for Peoria Public Schools, Dave Meyers! We have seen first hand how incredibly hard Dave works to maintain the district's property. Cindy Morris recently said that when she visits each school with the superintendent on her yearly first day of class visits, she is in awe of how great PPS buildings and grounds look. Dave has also been an awesome supporter of all of our Foundation events and helps us with coordinating many sponsorship opportunities. Congrats, Dave - and thank you for all you do!
Ad spots are available on the new electronic sign located on the PPS Stadium property. The sign has great visibility for both eastbound and westbound traffic on War Memorial Drive. $300 per week or $1,000 per month spots are available. Artwork must be in a 2100 x 900 jpg file. The sign is 14 feet wide by 6 feet tall.

All proceeds for sign advertisement go directly to help Peoria Public School's campaign to improve the stadium property. Please message [email protected] with any questions.
PPS Foundation's Board of Directors:
Dan Adler, Andre Allen, Ruth Bittner, Solivian Dismuke, Maarten de Haas, Alex Elger, Daniel Musisi, Cheryl Sanfilip, and Cathy Wiggers

PPS Foundation's Staff:
Cindy Morris - President
Jen Adler - Administrative Director
Sarah Oakford - Adopt-A-School Coordinator
Trish O'Shaughnessy - Director, Community Engagement & Horizons Program
Annalee Anderson - Career Tech Advocate
Sara Montgomery - Career Tech Advocate
Olivia Smith - Career Tech Advocate
Matt Violet - Horizons and See It Be It Career Exploration Programming Logistics Coordinator