President's Notes

 

July 2025

The summer has been very warm and is going by quickly. Soon it will be time for classes to reconvene.

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We enjoyed a successful spring with a good Trivia event, and in June a successful Golf Outing. Both events will allow us to offer staff/student grants again. Over the last 10 years, we have presented over $500,000 in scholarships and $300,000 in grants.

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Speaking of funds, we have many ways in which you can help us support our missions to demonstrate your support of the JTHS Foundation. You can also establish a family endowment to fund a scholarship and/or program or purchase a ceremonial brick. These bricks are available at Central to honor and/or remember Central and/or East staff and students and the same at the West campus. Available, too, are Wall of Honor plaques at both Campuses.

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This year we were also selected as one of the few Illinois Foundations to be granted the Qualified Community Foundation (QCF). This means that donating to us prior to the year’s end may grant you a 25% Illinois Tax Credit for your amount donated. There is a special process that must be followed and a state limit on funds for the credit, so you need to consider acting now. Please call me at 815-922-4065 or e-mail me at mlturk05@comcast.net. I can help walk you through either establishing a Foundation Family Endowment, purchase a brick and/or plaque, or donating to our QCF for a tax credit.

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Our goal is to help enrich the learning experience of JTHS students. With your help and support we can do that. To that end, we are always looking for energetic persons to join our Foundation. Please contact me about those opportunities, too.

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Wishing you an enjoyable remaining summer and thank you for your past and future support.

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April 2025

We just completed our 19th Annual Trivia Fundraiser. The subject, “A Trip to the Movies,” proved to be much more challenging than expected but 350 attendees enjoyed a wonderful afternoon. Thank you to all that attended and all who volunteered their time to create this wonderful event.

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We are now working on our 24th Annual Wadsworth JTHS Alumni Golf Outing which will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Joliet’s Inwood Golf course with 8:00 a.m. registration and 9:00 a.m. start. Go to our Events page and sign up to golf and/or sponsor.

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With your support, we are able to offer $59,500 in Scholarships. We also awarded $25,000 in mini-grants, supplied the principals with $6,000 in emergency funding, and will supply almost $8,000 in Summer School and SAT/PSAT testing support for those in need.

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Recently, we were certified as an Illinois Community Foundation which allows you to donate up to $10,000 to our Foundation this year and qualify for a 25% Illinois Tax Credit.

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Our Foundation is currently all volunteer with no paid staff. We sure could use a few more members to help achieve our goals. So, if you want to make a difference in student lives and their District 204 educational experience, call me at 815-922-4065 or e-mail me at mlturk05@comast.net

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​​January 2025

A new year is upon us. Looking back on 2024, we enjoyed a successful year. We are holding a great Trivia Event in March and a wonderful Golf Outing in June.

 

During April and May we presented $56,000 in Scholarships and this fall we issued approximately $25,000 in mini-grants to students and staff plus deposited $3,000 into each of the Principal’s Emergency Fund for the Central and West Campus and also provided over $5,000 in summer school and AP testing support.

 

We raised funds through our fundraisers, plus endowment income, along with our ceremonial bricks and Wall of Honor Plaques. So, think about it: if you have someone you want to honor and/or remember, buy a brick for $150 or a plaque on the Wall of Honor for $100, $200, or $500.

 

If you or your family has an East Alumni in the family, we now have a separate area of bricks reserved for Kingsman!

 

If you need more information concerning bricks, plaques, or even starting a scholarship, please call me at 815-922-4065 or email me at mlturk05@comcast.net.