Ways to Give

Hineni Pre-School Capital Campaign | Yachad Capital Campaign | Annual Events | Volunteer Opportunities

Thank you for your interest in supporting Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School. We depend on charitable support from our extended family to secure elementary school scholarships, attract and retain outstanding staff, and grow our stimulating educational programs for all our students. Akiba-Schechter is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All gifts are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Each and every gift is important and appreciated.

Those who make gifts to Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School take pride in their investment. Thank you for your philanthropic spirit, which strengthens our School immeasurably, and for making Akiba-Schechter your priority today.

Cash or Check
To make a gift by check, please make it payable to Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School, and send your contribution to:
Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School
Development Office
5235 S. Cornell Ave.
Chicago, IL 60615

Credit Card
To make a gift using your MasterCard or VISA, please call Robin Lisak, our Controller at (773) 493-8880, ext. 215.

Gift of Securities
A gift of appreciated securities to Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School can provide you, the donor, with several tax and estate-planning benefits. For information and instructions please contact our Development Office at (773) 493-8880, ext. 214.

Matching Gifts
The value of your gift may be increased if your employer or your spouse's employer participates in a Matching Gift program. To learn if your gift qualifies for a match, please contact your employer's human resources office.

Getting Involved at Akiba: Volunteer Your Time and Talents
We have a goal of 100% family participation. There are many ways to volunteer at Akiba-Schechter. Please peruse the list below or simply contact Millie or Reada in the office at (773) 493-8880. We look forward to working with you.

In the Fall, you can assist us with...

The Chamber Music Benefit Concert Featuring Sam Magad & Friends -- Soliciting sponsors, making calls, helping on the day of the concert.

Picture Day -- Volunteers needed to facilitate logistics, escorting children & classes, etc.

Open House -- Volunteers needed to set up and/or clean up

Sukkah Building -- Volunteers needed to help build and take down the school Sukkah.

Pre-School Brunch-- Volunteers needed to help with set up and/or clean up

In the Winter, you can assist us with...

The All-School Play (February 22, 24 and 25, 2008) -- Set construction, costume design & assembly

The Annual Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction – Event planning, silent auction coordination, décor & design planning, tribute book coordination, donor solicitations, day-of support

In the Spring, you can assist us with...

Grandparents' & Special Friends Day -- Parents needed to help plan and host this wonderful event.

Book Fair -- Volunteers needed to set up and help at the fair.

Graduation -- Volunteers needed to help set up and/or clean-up reception and serve as greeters/hosts at the event

Throughout the year, you can do many things:

Administrative Support – Periodically parents are needed to help with major mailings, phone calls and other school administrative projects.
Room Parents -- Parents needed to be the liaison between the school & the families.
Rosh Chodesh Breakfasts -- Volunteers needed each month to set up and/or clean up.
Hot Lunches -- Volunteers needed to shop, cook and serve weekly and holiday lunches. Cooking is done in the Kosher kitchen here at Akiba-Schechter.
Grant Research & Writing – Researcher and writers needed to identify and draft funding proposals.
Student Recruitment: Families can host and/or attend neighborhood coffees.

Fundraising Events
Each year tuition revenue accounts for only 75% of our operations budget. The following fundraising events will help raise the remaining 25% during the 2007-2008 school year as well as support the Hineni Pre-School Capital Campaign.

The Annual Herb Klaff Benefit Concert – Sunday, October 28, 2007 Annual Events
World-class chamber music filled the halls of Congregation Rodfei Zedek on Sunday, October 28, 2007 as nearly 300 people gathered for the 29th Annual Herb Klaff Benefit Concert. The concert, which raised more than $26,000 for Akiba-Schechterís scholarship program, featured the music of Sam Magad & Friends. Former Chicago Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Samuel Magad, was joined by Paul Phillips on violin, Daniel Orbach on viola, Stephen Balderston on cello and Dale Clevenger on French Horn. The program included the Brahms String Quartet #3, the Mozart Quintet for Horns and Strings and the Haydn String Quartet The Lark. "We are truly grateful to Herb Klaff for bringing this gift of a concert to Akiba-Schechter for the past 29 years," said Miriam Schiller, Principal. "His generosity combined with the talent of world-class musicians resulted in a wonderful concert and successful fundraising event." Since its inception, the Herb Klaff Benefit Concert has raised nearly $200,000 for Akiba-Schechter. Contact the Development Department to learn more about this annual event akibadevelopment@att.net.

Annual Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction – Sunday, March 2, 2008
Each March, Akiba-Schechter honors a member of the community in this annual fundraising event. Funds raised at the Benefit Dinner support general operations and scholarships in the Day School. The benefit dinner and silent auction is a lively and elegant evening to celebrate with the broader Akiba family and members of the community. Our silent auction includes a collection of local and international goods and services donated by members and friends of the Akiba community. In addition to the Auction, we publish a fantastic Tribute Book that gives individuals as well as businesses the chance to advertise and friends the chance to send messages. In all, the Benefit Dinner brings in more than $200,000 the School.

Akiba-Schechter Shuffle Fun Run & Family Concert Featuring David Landau – Sunday, March 30, 2008
“Ready-set-go!” Tie up those laces and join us for a fun 5K run/walk/toddle to benefit Akiba-Schechter. This annual race begins and ends at Akiba-Schechter and is a blast for participants of all ages. Immediately following the race, David Landau (former Akiba-Schechter teacher and world-renown children’s music performer) will perform a benefit concert at the school. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Hineni Pre-School Capital Campaign.

Hineni Pre-School Capital Campaign
More than 20 years ago, Barbara Simon and Lynn Harris founded what is today known as the Akiba-Schechter Pre-School & Kindergarten. They recognized a need for a pre-school that reflected the diversity of the Hyde Park community and offered a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment where children could learn through active exploration and play. That first classroom of 12 children has grown into the Akiba-Schechter of today -- a two-story, 7 classroom building buzzing with the energy of 150 curious and enthusiastic children.

While the Akiba-Schechter Pre-School & Kindergarten teaching team has performed at an ever-increasing level of excellence over the years, the physical facility has lagged behind without significant capital repair. Drafty windows, an aging boiler and a smaller than ideal outside play space were just a few examples of the areas in need of improvement.

To meet these building needs, in March 2007 we launched a capital campaign to raise $1.25 million to renovate the Akiba-Schechter Pre-School & Kindergarten, top-to-bottom, inside-and-out. Bright and colorful classrooms with new windows, lighting, flooring, climate control, and new bathrooms; expanded and enhanced playgrounds; a new professional teacher space; and welcoming family and guest areas are all part of the plan!

Thanks to generous leadership contributions received thus far, we have already raised more than $775,000 (as of September, 2007) towards our goal! This amount alone enabled us to complete Phase One of the project and refurbish the building’s core infrastructure with new windows, heating/cooling systems, plumbing and bathrooms, electrical systems and lighting and new ceilings throughout. Phase Two will include interior finishes, a renovated administrative office suite that features a new Teacher Resource Library and the renovation and expansion of our Pre-School playground.

We need your help to reach our goal. Hineni is a Hebrew word, found throughout the Torah, which means “Here I am.” Communities are built and sustained when individuals and families stand up and call out: “Hineni, Here I am.” Many individuals have already answered the call with generous donations to the campaign. Though much has been raised in a short period of time, more funding is needed to complete the project. If you are interested in learning more about the Pre-School Capital Campaign or to make a contribution, please contact the Development Office at (773) 493-8880 or akibadevelopment@att.net.

Yachad Capital Campaign
To continue to realize its vision of a Jewish Day School that has a place for any Jewish child who wants to enroll, and that will entice families who never considered Jewish education for their children, Akiba-Schechter needed a space that competes with the best schools around and that befits a school of such high aims. To that end, in the summer of 2001 Akiba-Schechter launched the $1.8 million Yachad Capital Campaign to pay for the first phase of construction. To learn more about Akiba's Yachad Capital Campaign, click here for a downloadable campaign brochure (PDF, 387kb)

Yachad Capital Campaign As of October 2006, thanks to the tremendous support of Board members, parents, grandparents, alumni, foundations, and community members that original goal, $1.8 million, was reached. Thanks to a terrific financing package, Akiba was able to stretch the $1.8 million and build not just the first, both phases of the new building. As a result, the new campus is nearly complete. The new elementary school building is now filled with children and teachers, but the playground has yet to be outfitted. The Campaign continues. There is still time for you to participate in this wonderful opportunity to secure the future of Akiba-Schechter. Click here for a copy of the Capital Campaign Pledge Form (PDF, 70kb).

We welcome your involvement in Akiba-Schechter. To learn more, or to arrange for a personal conversation about your support, please call the Development Office at (773) 493-8880 or e-mail akibadevelopment@att.net.

Modified: Last Modified:January 22, 2008. 20:04:44 pm