Woman's Club Donates $9,000 to Local Elementary Schools

The Lemont Junior Woman's Club closed out the 2010-2011 school year on a high note, awarding a total of $9,000 to and the village's four private schools.

The club announced last month that each of Lemont's elementary schools would receive a share of the funds, with the amount reflecting the size of enrollment.

"Part of our mission is to support various aspects of the community, including education," said Jennifer Gould, vice president and philanthropies chairperson for the club. "This year, we wanted to come up with something to give back to all of the schools."

Through the organization's fundraising efforts, they were able to raise enough for the $9,000 donation.

Earlier this spring, members of the Lemont Junior Woman's Club met with school representatives to identify needs and wants of each building.

District 113A, which received the largest amount, will use the money to purchase notebooks for all grade levels. Students at and will enjoy schoolwide assemblies that focus on arts and history, respectively.

The will use the funds to plant a new organic garden, while will use the remaning money to supplement the Apostolic Outreach program.

According to Gould, the donations were made possible through the group's two annual fundraisers, the  (May 20) and (Sept. 16).

The Lemont Junior Woman's Club is a non-profit organization whose purpose is "to provide financial and volunteer support to educational, civic and philanthropic efforts that enrich the lives of the citizens in our community. The goal of our efforts is to help fulfillthe basic needs of Lemont citizens of all ages with an emphasis on children, who are the future of our community."

Club members have supported Lemont children in the past through various charitable efforts, including the construction of Safety Village and the establishment of many safety programs. Scholarships are also awarded to local high school seniors that demonstrate volunteerism.

Club members volunteer more than 7,000 hours of service and donate more than $20,000 each year, Gould said.