Cheers and Beers Party Brings the Community Together
Oh, what a night! The District 39 Educational Foundation hosted its very first Cheers & Beers party this spring at Double Clutch Brewing Company in Evanston. Sponsored by North Shore Community Bank, this event featured live music, dancing, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres, as well as a silent auction and raffle to raise money for the Foundation’s Gripp Grants program.
And what a fun night it was! More than 150 guests attended and mingled, enjoying craft brews and noshing on sliders and wings. The grand prize of the evening, an opportunity to drive a Porsche for a weekend, generated almost $2000 in raffle ticket sales. Popular auction items included gift certificates from local restaurants and businesses, while unique items generating much interest were a Tiki party boat ride on Lake Michigan and a ride to school on a Wilmette Fire Department fire truck. Additionally, D39 Principals, Rebecca Littmann, Aaron Dubnow, Dana Nasiakos, Cindy Anderson, Kelly Jackson, and Kate Dominique, contributed the opportunity for a student to become Principal for a Day at each of the D39 schools; these auction items alone raised over $1500! The highlight of the event was entertainment by two local bands, JuiceBox and Antler Chandelier, who kept the crowd moving. “The bands were awesome, the food and drinks were great, and most of all the guests commented about how they really appreciated the chance to get together in person again,” noted event committee member Stephanie Adam.
Overall, the event was a great success, not only in supporting the Foundation but also in encouraging community togetherness following a two-year pandemic hiatus. After ticket sales, donations, silent auction, and raffle proceeds, Cheers & Beers raised a total of $15,000 that will benefit the district’s six schools by sponsoring future Gripp Grants. These grants provide funds for innovative educational programs, experiences, and technologies that expand, enrich, and complement the schools’ curricula.
