End of Summer Update: How Your Generosity Is Lifting Up Local Kids!

You care about kids — or you wouldn’t be here! We can’t thank you enough for your caring commitment. For kids in District 41, your generosity is a lifeline. 

Because of you, this summer was more than just a time for area kids to laze around in the sun. It was also a wonderful period of enrichment and social development — which are critically important for healthy, happy, and confident growing children. 

All of this was fostered by the D41 Kids Foundation’s production of The Lion King — a youth theater summer musical that was staged four times, twice each on August 5th and 6th, at Parkview Community Church in Glen Ellyn. Directed by Gina Wood, The Lion King gave local kids a wealth of experience in communication, dedication, resilience, and good, clean fun. Countless children who were initially reluctant to audition learned the benefits of hard work and teamwork. They made new friends (including ones from different schools), nurtured new passions previously outside their comfort zones, memorized and delivered lines with emotion and aplomb, and analyzed a rich text from multiple angles. The cast included 90 D41 kids from grades K-8. (There were no cuts.) Six Glenbard West and Hadley theater students volunteered to assist as stage crew. The Lion King proved to be a hot ticket. Over 1,200 tickets were sold. Many people are already asking about next summer’s musical. When we have information on that front, you’ll be among the first to know! Local support from family and corporate sponsors was also strong. Sixteen family sponsors gave $50-300. Twelve corporate Spotlight Sponsors gave $300. Seven Producer’s Club sponsors gave $500. And there were five donations of services or products. Altogether, there were 40 sponsors who generously donated money, time, goods, and/or services. This support is a wonderful testament to the strength and caring of our community. We are so grateful for you — and the children are inspired by your shining example! 

Last but certainly not least, thank you very much to all who entered the raffle to benefit the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) that provides free books monthly for D41 kids from birth to age 5. The grand prize, a beautifully crafted bookcase made by Jason Loebach – Vice President of the D41 School Board and a stunning quilt handmade by Dr. Lynn Bruno — one of the Founders and Chairperson of D41 Kids Foundation — was during the raffle graciously displayed at The Bookstore and Chocolaterie Stam in downtown Glen Ellyn. The winner of the quilt was Kate Marsh, a longtime resident of Glen Ellyn, whose 2nd grade daughter debuted in the production as a Bird! With 75 raffle entrants, $4,347 was raised. This will carry the cost of the DPIL library and put books in D41 kids’ hands for approximately 6 months. To date, the D41 Kids Foundation affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has mailed 3,976 books to 398 children in our district since our inception in June of 2021! 

What a wonderful summer it was — thank you for helping to make so many good things happen for our precious children!