April Newsletter

Dear D95 Educational Foundation Supporters,

Spring has arrived, and with it comes a season full of exciting events and opportunities to celebrate the amazing things happening in District 95!

First up, we’re thrilled to invite you to our Annual Golf Outing on June 9th at Steeplechase Golf Club. It’s always a wonderful day to connect, have fun, and come together in support of our mission - to create opportunities that empower every learner in our district.

But before we tee off, we hope you’ll join us for one of the most inspiring events of the year: Pitch Night for the LZHS INCubator program, happening Thursday, May 1st at 6:00 PM in the Lake Zurich High School Performing Arts Center. Thanks to your support, this incredible program gives students the chance to develop real business ideas, work with mentors, and present their innovations in front of a panel - just like on Shark Tank. It’s a night full of creativity, courage, and community, and we’d love to see you there. A special thank you to Deacon John and Bobbi Sfire, whose generous contribution of $20,000 has made a tremendous impact on the growth and success of our INCubator program. Their support helps ensure that future student entrepreneurs continue to thrive.

To our other generous donors and sponsors, thank you. Your continued support makes it all possible. From classroom grants to enrichment programs and beyond, you help bring learning to life in ways that traditional funding simply can’t.

We’re also always looking for caring, passionate people to join us as trustees or school liaisons. If you’ve ever thought about getting more involved, we’d be happy to chat!

Thank you for being such an important part of our Foundation family. We hope to see you at Pitch Night and at the golf outing in June!

Liz Hartke

Executive Director
District 95 Educational Foundation

Mark your calendar for our Annual Golf Outing on June 9th at the beautiful Steeple Chase Golf Club in Mundelein, IL! It’s a perfect way to enjoy a day of golf, connect with others in the community, and support the Educational Foundation’s mission to empower learners.

Whether you'd like to golf with us or become a sponsor, we’d love to have you involved. Reach out to let us know how you’d like to participate — and we’ll see you on the course!

The D95 Educational Foundation proudly supports the INCubator program at Lake Zurich High School, helping fund this dynamic, real-world entrepreneurship experience for students. Through mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on business development, the program empowers young innovators to turn ideas into actionable startups. Don’t miss Pitch Night this Thursday, May 1 at 6:00 PM in the LZHS Performing Arts Center - come see these future entrepreneurs showcase their hard work and creativity!

Again, a huge thanks to Deacon John and Bobbi Sfire for their amazing $20,000 gift to the INCubator program! Their support is helping our student entrepreneurs dream big and bring their ideas to life.

We're gearing up for the 2025-2026 school year and looking for passionate individuals to join our team! If you're interested in contributing your talents as a trustee or liaison, we'd love to hear from you.

We’re especially looking for expertise in:

• Website design
  
• Event planning
  
• Marketing
  
• Accounting
  

Your skills can make a big impact! If you're interested, or to learn more about becoming a trustee, please reach out to Liz at Foundation@lz95.org.

Indra Josephs, Chair

Joseph Janicki, Vice Chair of Communications

Brittany Tjardes, Treasurer

Andy Spetter, Vice Chair of Grants & Initiatives

Willy Borkowski - Secretary

Jennifer McGrath, Trustee

Kelly Cranstoun, Trustee

Vas Russis, Trustee

Billy Heisler, Trustee

Ashley Scott, Trustee

Dr. Kelley Gallt, Superintendent

John Sfire - Trustee Emeritus

Liz Hartke - Executive Director