IMPACT Newsletter - May 2024
President's Message
Check out the video below from the PPS Foundation President Cindy Morris and PPSF Board Chair Andre Allen!
Join us for our 27th Annual Golf Outing on June 24th!
There's still plenty of time to register for the 27th Annual Golf Outing. This event is one of our largest fundraisers and always a lot of fun to participate in. Last year, the private dollars raised through this golf outing supported classroom grants, our Career Exploration programs, scholarships and so much more.  

Sponsorships are so important to this event. We want to ensure that all funds raised can go directly to support our work with Peoria Public Schools. CLICK HERE to view more information on sponsorship pricing.

Ready to sign up your foursome? Click on the button below to register for the event. Feel free to contact Cindy Morris at cindy.morris@psd150.org with any questions!
CDS
Central Illinois Printing
Just Kidz Dentistry
KEDbluestone
Kay McCord
Thanks to our beverage sponsor Baumgarten Distributing, CORE Construction for sponsoring the Happy Hour and to Hy-Vee for their generous contribution to the swag bags.
The Principal Experience
The PPS Foundation held its Spring Principal Experience on May 7th. Three of Peoria's community leaders got to observe the work of a school principal for a day. Laura Cullinan of the Gilmore Foundation visited Richwoods High School, Melodi Green of the City of Peoria visited Glen Oak Community Learning Center, and attorney & Peoria City Council member Mike Vespa visited Reservoir Gifted Academy. We would like to send a big thank you to everyone who participated that day.
Congratulations to the Recipients of the 2024 PPS Foundation Scholarships!
We'd like to extend a huge CONGRATS to all of the high school seniors who received a PPS Foundation scholarship this year! These amazing students have accomplished so many awesome things while in high school and we can't wait to see what the future brings for them!
 
Thank you also to all who applied for one of our scholarships and the numerous volunteers who helped evaluate the applications. There was a large pool of extremely qualified applicants this year!
 
For anyone who knows a current PPS high school junior - be sure to check out our website for information on next year's scholarship applications. They'll be available between November 1 - March 1st!
Congratulations to the 2024 Deirdre Purcell Collins Mathematics Award Winners!
Two seventh grade girls from each middle school in the Peoria Public Schools District are selected annually for this recognition. Their selection is based on test scores, classroom performance, and potential for achievement in math-related fields. The Deirdre Purcell Collins Award was established in 2007 and is named in memory of Deirdre Purcell Collins who grew up in Peoria and attended Whittier, Washington, and Manual High School. This award is funded by the Purcell family and administered by the PPS Foundation. We would like to thank Mrs. Purcell for her continued dedication and passion to this award.

On April 17th, we recognized the achievements of these amazing young women. Check out the list of recipients below!
Annie Jo Gordon Community Learning Center:
Sophia Farris & Sincerity Hightower
 
The Elise Ford Allen Academy:
Dzavia Knox & Jo'Mya Polnitz
 
Glen Oak Community Learning Center:
Julia Jimenez & Evonne Nelson
 
Harold B. Dawson Middle School:
Dezire Jones & Izzabella Lopez
 
Liberty Leadership Middle School:
Isabella Eshelman & Rosemary Hernandez
 
Lincoln K-8 School: 
Diana Mendez & Iris Portales
 
Mark Bills Middle School:
Jarhyal McNeil & Taylor Todd
 
Reservoir Gifted Academy: 
Tess Cavannah & Magnolia Lee
 
Rolling Acres Middle School: 
Chloe Brown & Judyce Hanna Joshua David
 
Sterling Middle School:
Harmony McGhee & Kanijah Watson
 
Trewyn K-8 School:
 Esmeralda Perdomo & Johanna Tucker
 
Von Steuben Middle School:
Julia Bridgeman & Shilyn Walker
 
If you see any of these young ladies, be sure to congratulate them on their awesome achievement!
We Need You for Little Free Pantry Clean Up Day!
Please join us for our annual clean up of our Little Free Pantries at June 5th at 8:00 AM. Located across the District, we are looking for volunteers to commit to cleaning and light maintenance (such as paint touchup) for these pantries. If you would like to help, please click on the button below to sign up or contact Trish O'Shaughnessy at patricia.oshaughnessy@psd150.org.
Adopt-A-School Update
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh sponsors book fair at Trewyn School
Thank you to Adopt A School partner Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh for their long-term partnership with Trewyn School. With a focus on literacy supports for students and an understanding of the joy associated with owning a new book, HSS is again sponsoring a book fair for the students, allowing all to participate. We are so grateful for their continued support of the students in Peoria Public Schools.
If you are part of an organization that would like to get involved and become an Adopt-A -School partner, please email Trish O'Shaughnessy at patricia.oshaughnessy@psd150.org or call (309) 696-3406.
Horizons Club Update
We closed out Horizons this year with fantastic field trips to Wildlife Prairie Park. The Horizons students explored the park and participated in a career presentation highlighting jobs in wildlife conservation and animal keeping.
We are grateful to the staff of Wildlife Prairie Park for hosting us and telling us all about their careers. This field trip was made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. Thank you CFCI for the support.
See It Be It Career Exploration Program
See It Be It is a PPS Foundation career exploration program for our youngest learners. Advanced Medical Transport has provided program support from the start. We are grateful to Josh Bradshaw from AMT for visiting all district kindergarten classrooms this week and sharing details about his career as an EMT. One of our favorite weeks of the year! Thank you Josh and AMT for all you do for the students in Peoria Public Schools.
PPS Foundation Hero of the Month: Lynette Fernandes
We are so grateful to our May PPS Foundation Hero, Lynette Fernandes, for all the support she has given with our career exploration programs. In her role as an instructor with the Interactive Media Department at Bradley University, Lynette has been instrumental in aligning career speakers majoring in game design with volunteer opportunities sharing careers with PPS students. She has also volunteered her time by sharing her career with students both in person and virtually on multiple dates. Lynette spearheaded the Making the Grade volunteer supports for Sterling Middle School, a program that aligns community leaders with students in a mentoring role. Thank you Lynette for all you do for the students in Peoria Public Schools.
Help PPS Students in Need with a Donation to our Basic Needs Support Program!
Click the picture below to donate.
All proceeds from the sign advertisement go directly to help Peoria Public Schools' campaign to improve the stadium property. Please reach out to Jen Adler at jennifer.adler@psd150.org for more information on pricing, artwork, or any other questions!
Thank You to our Community Partners!
We'd like to give an especially big shout out this month to Hy-Vee in Sheridan Village and K2 Benefits for going above and beyond to further our mission to improve the quality of education in Peoria Public Schools!
PPS Foundation's Board of Directors:
Andre Allen, Beth Crider, Solivian Dismuke, Maarten de Haas, Alex Elger, Kim McGhee, Alyce Jackson, Cheryl Sanfilip, and Doug Shaw

Ex Officio Board Members:
Dr. Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat (PPS Superintendant) and Mike Murphy (PPS Board of Education)

PPS Foundation's Staff:
Cindy Morris - President
Jen Adler - Administrative Director
Allison Coulter - PPS Foundation Ambassador
Trish O'Shaughnessy - Director of Programs-Career & College Readiness and Adopt-a-School
Matt Violet - Data and Programming Logistics Coordinator
Annalee Anderson - Career Tech Advocate
Tessa Little - Career Tech Advocate
Cassie Robbins - Career Tech Advocate
Isabella Turner - Career Tech Advocate