Gala To Raise Funds To Send Students To College
Gala To Raise Funds To Send Students To College
By Tia Carol Jones
The Superintendents’ Commission, in partnership with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) will host its third annual Investing in our Future Scholarship Gala on Friday, Feb. 21st, at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive.
The Superintendents’ Commission is comprised of 40 superintendents from Cook County and counties surrounding Cook County. Its mission is to improve the instructional effectiveness of teachers, leadership development of administrators and parental trainings. The Superintendents’ Commission provides professional development workshops and seminars. The organization also provides college scholarships to students, based on merit and need.
Dr. Johnnie Thomas is the Superintendent of Rich Township High School District 227. He is also the co-chair of the Superintendents’ Commission UNCF Gala. Dr. Sandra Thomas is the Superintendent of ECHO Joint Agreement and the President of Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Diversity and Demographics.
Dr. Johnnie Thomas said the goal of the gala is to raise funds to give students in the Southland some much needed assistance as they begin their postsecondary endeavors. He said the event has been successful the last two years it was held and has raised half a million dollars for children, as well as securing full ride scholarships, through donations and partnership with UNCF and Tougaloo College.
Dr. Sandra Thomas said the Superintendents’ Commission wanted to host the gala because the members knew about the financial burden of paying for college and how it can be a major barrier to some students who come from low-income backgrounds. She added that through the partnership with UNCF, there has been a concerted effort to seek opportunities for students to attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as well as other institutions of higher education.
“Our goal is to make sure that we’re supporting their needs and their endeavors to attend college,” she said.
Dr. Johnnie Thomas said that tuition for college can be a barrier, and it is something that the Superintendents’ Commission really wanted to tackle. One of the Commission’s goals is to focus on providing solutions to challenges that create inequalities for the students in the school districts it represents. Since the first gala, the Commission has been able to increase the number of scholarships from 65 to 100, and increase the amount of money distributed to each student from $1,000 to $1,500.
“Through this partnership, we really feel like we’re allowing for our families to really chip away at something that can really be a struggle for them as they’re moving to postsecondary activities,’’ Dr. Johnnie Thomas said.
The Superintendents’ Commission has partnered with and receives support from local businesses, including ARCON Associates, Safeway Transportation Service and Netcap Solutions. Dr. Johnnie Thomas said partnering with big sponsors enables them to raise the revenue necessary to get the scholarships to the students who need it the most. Dr. Sandra Thomas added that the scholarships helps students focus on their academics without financial stressors.
Dr. Johnnie Thomas and Dr. Sandra Thomas wanted to acknowledge the work of Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, Superintendent of Matteson School District 162 and CEO of Southland College Prep.
Tickets cost $100. For more information about the gala, call 708-748-0100 ext. 4124 or go to https://myle.com/investing-in-our-future-3rd-annual-scholarship-gala.
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