December Newsletter
December News From The D95 Foundation
Winter break can be a challenging time for some families in the D95 community, as students lose access to school-provided meals and many community food pantries for the holiday season. In partnership with District 95, community members, and district staff, the D95 Foundation is providing Winter Break Food Care Packages to support families facing food insecurity.
So far, we have raised more than $4,500 and there's still time for you to help. Make a donation before 11 pm on Dec. 16 to help us support as many district families as possible before break begins.
Your monetary donation will help us provide essential food items and grocery support that will be distributed before Winter Break. This builds on the successful Birthday Box Initiative from the fall, which enabled us to prepare and donate 595 birthday boxes for local families.
The D95 Foundation would like to especially thank both the Sfire family for providing the seed funding to launch this initiative, as well as Pete and Heidi Casady, whose generosity will enable us to support as many D95 families as possible. We are grateful to be part of such a generous community.
**Please note, we are not accepting actual food donations at this time**
The D95 Foundation is proud to support the INCubatorEdu program, an innovative entrepreneurship course that gives high school students the opportunity to develop real business ideas from concept to pitch. Through mentorship from local business leaders (including some of our D95 Foundation Trustees!) and hands-on experience, students gain valuable skills in teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving—preparing them to be the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Last month, LZHS ACCELeratorEdu students proudly presented their product, she’Safe, at the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce’s "Breakfast with the Mayors." See action shots from their presentation here on social media!
The District 95 Educational Foundation would like to thank and recognize one of our "Big Bear" sponsors, BCU, for their generosity and continued support of the D95 community. BCU is a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union that is fiercely dedicated to Empowering People To Discover Financial Freedom. BCU is right here in Lake Zurich, with a branch at 444 S Rand Rd, Suite 100, and open to the community.
Of note to D95 families with high school students, BCU's 2026 Scholarship Program is back, and 30 recipients will earn a scholarship valued up to $10,000*! The portal will open Monday, February 9 and close Monday, March 23.
*BCU will award 30 scholarships including (9) $5,000 Leader of Tomorrow Awards, (1) $10,000 Tom Hodson Compassionate Leader Award, and (20) additional awards of $2,500 each. Applications are accepted February 9 – March 23, 2026. No applications will be accepted after 3 pm CT on March 24. Recipients will be notified the week of April 11, 2026. The student applying must have their own Credit Union membership account in good standing. Students may join the Credit Union and apply for a scholarship at the same time.
Calling all D95 Alumni!
The District 95 Educational Foundation is excited to introduce the Alumni Connection - a new initiative designed to bring together graduates of Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95. Our alumni are a vital part of our story, and we believe that by reconnecting, we can celebrate the successes of our graduates while also strengthening the future of our schools and community.
Why the D95 Alumni Connection?
The experiences you had in District 95 helped shape your path, and now we want to create a way for you to reconnect with classmates, teachers, and the community that supported you. The Alumni Connection will be a place to:
Reconnect – Stay in touch with fellow alumni and the district.
Engage – Participate in events, mentorship opportunities, and networking.
Give Back – Support today’s students through volunteerism, advocacy, and philanthropy.
