Photo: Voyageur Brewing Company served chicken wings to E.A.T.S attendees. All photos from Boreal Community Media.

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - March 15, 2024

Over 100 community members packed the halls of ISD 166 last week to participate in E.A.T.S, an annual fundraiser hosted by the Cook County School District 166 Education Foundation. The Education Foundation has a mission to "Offer unique experiences for students through innovative instruction and co-curricular programs which are unable to be funded by ISD 166 or other sources," according to their website. 

 New owners of Blue Water Cafe, Sam and Sarah, served butter chicken and rice. 

Like all events, several people and groups came together to ensure a successful evening. Education Foundation Board Member John Oberholtzer told Boreal Community Media that "With the food vendors, our board members, the community band, and other volunteers, about 170 folks participated," (including the 100 attendees). 

Emma Spoon, another Education Foundation Board Member said "We had a stellar group of high school students who volunteered and supported our board members in set-up and clean-up, as well as keeping the event running smoothly, including serving food for one restaurant. The energy was great as folks mingled. Personally, I count on this event every year to catch up with friends in the community whom I do not cross paths with regularly. It's a great chance to connect, chat, enjoy music, shop, and eat well! I appreciated seeing how many school staff members, as well as many of the business owners who also contributed to our silent auction, attended. It takes a village, and our village showed up in force to support the Education Foundation!"

 A delicious assortment of food samples from local restaurants and food vendors.

13 local restaurants participated in the event, including: 

• Bluefin Bay Grille
• Blue Water Cafe
• Cascade Lodge & Restaurant
• Cook County Whole Foods Co-op
• Fisherman’s Daughter
• Hungry Hippie Tacos
• ISD 166 Culinary Arts students & Tom Nalezny
• Java Moose
• Mike’s Holiday
• Poplar Haus
• Shook 
• Voyageur Brewing
• World’s Best Donuts

 

In addition to sampling delicious food, and listening to live music from the North Shore Swing Band, attendees could bid on items in the silent auction. A wide variety of items were available including gift certificates to local businesses, locally made items, and gift baskets. Oberholtzer shared that there were 129 items donated and that all sold except one. 

Combining silent auction and ticket sales, the event raised around $9,000. 

Overall, the Education Foundation has contributed over $200,000 directly to teachers and students for ISD 166 programming. Attendees were able to see some how some of those funds were used with a newly assembled (truly, it was assembled the day of the event), driving simulator, which was created for the Community ED Driver's Education Program.

 

See more photos from the event below.