A $102-million swimming pool: that’s what some local residents might mistakenly think about Project 2, the renovation of the school’s athletic facilities currently underway. But Project 2 is much more than a pool. It involves the entire reconstruction of the southeast corner of the Oak Park and River Forest High School building, replacing physical education spaces that are roughly a century old.
The project will be paid for from District 200 cash reserves and borrowing, as well as philanthropic donations through the Imagine Foundation. This organization was founded in 2019 by community volunteers to offset the costs of renovating OPRF facilities.
The Imagine Foundation is a private non-profit organization whose main objective is to renovate and modernize OPRF facilities.
As a member of the Imagine Foundation’s Associate Board, I urge you to support Project 2 at the Hearts for Huskies: Donation Doubling Event on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event will be held at Byline Bank, 1001 Lake St. in Oak Park. The bank’s charity will match every dollar donated up to $10,000.
The event will include a Heart Tree Swap, where guests can exchange $25 for a mystery $25 gift card, as well as the sale of limited-edition heart pins for $100. Finger foods will be served, and guests will have the opportunity to mix and mingle, according to George Barkidjija, an OPRF junior.
Barkidjija was recently selected to join the Imagine Foundation’s Associate Board from the Future Philanthropists Program, along with juniors Avaa Ruffer, Julia Max and myself.
“I feel like we’re able to contribute a more unique perspective being students at the school,” he said. “Also, one of the main missions of the Imagine Foundation is for all of the renovations to be meaningful and purposeful, and not just superficial. I think our input is very valuable to the board and to the foundation as a whole, because we are able to give feedback, able to explain any things that they could have missed, and tell them what is working really well and what things might not be as necessary.”
Byline Bank has been a regular supporter of the Imagine Foundation and nonprofits in the Oak Park area. Hearts for Huskies is “a great initiative,” according to Susie Goldschmidt, a senior vice president and market president for Oak Park and River Forest. “It’s a great opportunity to keep the dollars well spent in our high school for our young people out there.”
All proceeds from Hearts for Huskies will directly support Project 2. Some local residents might wonder why we need private philanthropy to support renovations at the school considering the high tax payments imposed on neighborhood residents.
This is the matter that the organization hopes to clarify to a wider public. “Relying entirely on our taxes to support the school financially, is just not enough,” said Heidi Ruehle, executive director of the Imagine Foundation. “There is a gap that we’re filling between the cash reserves of the school and the financing, but also I think it just demonstrates even more how much our community supports our school and our kids.”
Ruehle said this cause is important to her even though her own children will graduate before the renovations are finished.
“To me…it’s not about myself or my personal family, but just more the importance of the high school to the community,” said Ruehle.
The Imagine Foundation has a goal to raise $15 million toward Project 2. So far it has raised 65% of that amount, according to its website. Your support at Hearts for Huskies will help us get closer to our goal.
