July Newsletter

Summer Season and Fun Ahead

While school may be out for the summer, the D95 Educational Foundation has been hard at work preparing for the year ahead! We’ve been focused on recruiting new trustees to join our board - and we’re especially on the lookout for a Treasurer. If you or someone you know has a background in finance or nonprofit accounting, we’d love to connect!

We’re also laying the groundwork for next year’s sponsors and actively collaborating with District 95 to identify funding priorities that will have the greatest impact on students, staff, and programs.

It’s an exciting time, and we’re proud to be a support system for D95. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, now’s the time - we’re a fun, motivated group doing meaningful work!

Liz Hartke

Executive Director
District 95 Educational Foundation

Heidi Casady - Gala Chair

Heidi is a seasoned healthcare technology sales professional with over 15 years of experience driving innovation and growth in the industry. Passionate about improving patient care through cutting-edge software solutions, Heidi has led and mentored high-performing sales teams, helping healthcare organizations enhance both clinical and operational outcomes. Beyond her professional achievements, Heidi has been a dedicated volunteer in the District 95 PTO community for over a decade, taking on leadership roles in school events, volunteer coordination, and fundraising efforts that have positively impacted students, staff, and programs. She and her husband, Pete, are proud parents to a blended family of seven children, all of whom have attended District 95 schools. In her free time, Heidi enjoys traveling, reading, and playing tennis.

Savannah Haeger - Alumni Relations Chair

Savannah brings nearly a decade of public affairs experience in Washington, D.C., currently serving as a Communications Principal on FedEx’s Global Public Affairs & Advocacy team, where she leads external communications on sustainability. A proud graduate of Lake Zurich schools, she holds a B.A. from Davidson College and an M.S. in Sustainability Management from American University. Passionate about education, Savannah has supported college readiness programs and continues to volunteer with her alma mater. She lives in D.C. with her husband and cats and enjoys theatre, travel, and a good book. Although she's based in Washington, Savannah will be Zooming in to our meetings - proof you don't have to live locally to be an active part of the Foundation and make a meaningful impact!

Brittany Tjardes - Treasurer and Gala Chair

This month, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Brittany Tjardes for her incredible service to the D95 Educational Foundation. Brittany poured her heart and soul into the role of Treasurer, dedicating countless hours to organizing and improving our financial systems with her deep expertise in non-profit accounting and Chief School Business Official experience. Her impact has been lasting and transformative. On top of that, she took on the huge responsibility of Gala Chair - delivering one of our most successful events to date! Brittany, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You did an amazing job, and we are all so grateful for your time, talent, and unwavering commitment. We wish you nothing but the best in all your future endeavors!

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