Schools
Food, Folks and Fundraising Planned for Eisenhower Junior High Athletics
The Eisenhower Junior High Athletic Booster Club's annual fall fundraiser begins at 7 p.m. Friday at Arabian Nights Farm in Willowbrook.
One of the largest fundraisers of the year for the Athletic Booster Club is galloping into the area this weekend.
Held in the "The Barn" at Arabian Nights Farm in Willowbrook, the fall fundraiser, set to begin at 7 p.m., will include a silent auction, dinner, music and a bags tournament.
Jeanette Kilrea, one co-chair of the event, hopes to see a large turnout by EJH parents, as well as others.
“We encourage the faculty to come, and anybody in the community that wants to support the school or have kids in the community,” she said.
Fellow Eisenhower parent Jenny Overmann is co-chair of the fall fundraiser.
“It’s a nice, casual night out for parents and teachers and community members,” Overmann said.
The EJH Athletic Booster Club is a parent and community support organization that was formed in 2008 to provide funding for sports at the junior high level.
Last year, , raising nearly $5,000.
“All the money raised go towards sports at the schools,” Kilrea said. “A couple of years ago we bought new cheerleading uniforms. We’ve used (the money) for helmets for the football teams. Any additional costs to the school the Boosters will go ahead and support things the teams might need.”
Other past purchases by the EJH Athletic Booster Club include cross country uniforms and timers, soccer balls, wrestling score stands, volleyball poles and pads, and football helmet safety re-certification.
Like last year’s fundraiser, also held at Arabian Nights Farm, the alumni band The Leslies will play.
“They have a lot of fun,” Kilrea said.
In years past the fall fundraiser was a formal, sit-down event, Overmann said.
Hosting the fundraiser in a more casual venue such as Arabian Nights Farm helped bring ticket prices down, which Overmann said is a boon in the current economy.
“It’s hard for people to spend right now,” she said. “And with this venue, people like to be more casual and mingle about.”
The dinner buffet will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The open bar runs from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., and the silent auction will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. The bags tournament will begin at 8:30 p.m. There is a $5 fee per entry.
Tickets for the dinner and entertainment are $40 in advance and $50 at the door.
The event is for guests ages 21 and older.
For more information, call (630) 269-1890 or (630) 841-3574.
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