Your gift of $7,500 or more will support a scholar's year of learning. A year full of one-of-a-kind experiences, resources, and educational support for curious and motivated 7th and 8th-grade students who want to challenge themselves academically.
$7,500 reflects the actual cost per student per year in the High Jump program.
The Sustaining Leaders Fund is an essential group of donors dedicated to supporting High Jump’s mission to equalize educational opportunities in Chicago.
Being a Sustaining Leader means:
- You will support a scholar's year of learning with a gift of $7,500 or more.
- You are a pillar of the High Jump community, making a deep and lasting investment in your community at an individual level.
- You're ensuring that High Jump can continue to have an incredible lasting impact on the next generation, helping to transform Chicago's educational landscape.
Your gift of $7,500 or more will support a scholar's year of learning. A year full of one-of-a-kind experiences, resources, and educational support for curious and motivated 7th and 8th-grade students who want to challenge themselves academically.
$7,500 reflects the actual cost per student per year in the High Jump program.
High Jump needs your support to continue to:
- Grow our scholars served across our programs to over 500 annually for the first time ever
- Give scholars 1-on-1 support with mental health practitioners to meet their increased needs
- Support our incredible teachers by increasing pay, professional development, and planning time
- Provide each student with meals and laptops as costs skyrocket due to inflation
- Keep High Jump tuition-free to empower our scholars to trailblaze their own paths to success
Be a Sustaining Leader. Contact Molly Gilbride, Chief Advancement Officer, at [email protected] to make your gift or donate online using the button below.
The Sustaining Leaders Fund Luncheon
Chicago Public Schools: Current insights and analysis
Our 2025 Sustaining Leaders Fund Luncheon featured guest speakers Becky Vevea, Chicago Bureau Chief for Chalkbeat, and Daniel Anello, CEO of Kids First Chicago who shared their keen insights in conversation with us.
Our discussion touched on the history of CPS, the impact that history has had on today's CPS, the oft-talked about challenges the district has faced and will continue to face, the less-discussed successes of the district over the years, and the opportunities to continue improving to better serve and meet the needs of the young scholars in our city.
Daniel Anello and Becky Vevea shared their thoughts on, amongst other things, giving parents the information they need to best support their kids and engaging with Chicago's new School Board.
Join the Sustaining Leaders Fund and receive the following benefits:
- An invitation to the exclusive Sustaining Leaders Donor Appreciation Luncheon featuring an inspiring voice in the Chicago community. Past speakers include Former US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Chicago documentarian and director of Hoop Dreams and America to Me Steve James, and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools Janice Jackson.
- Recognition at High Jump’s Spring of Opportunity Benefit, the High Jump website, our annual report, and more.
- Special Communication from CEO Nate Pietrini
- A yearly token of our appreciation
High Jump Annual Report
High Jump would like to thank the members of the Sustaining Leaders Fund for providing annual fund unrestricted gifts of over $7,500.
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Navneet Arora and Lori Eppstein
Katie and Chris Barber
Carol Bernstein Eckstein and Marty Eckstein
Shanelle Brown
John and Jacolyn Bucksbaum
Sally B. Carton and John Carton
Christopher and Elisa Cartwright
Erica and Krishnan Chandrasekhar
Jymme and Steve Chaouki
Lauren and David Chazen
Sarah and John Cobb
Vincent Cozzi
Paula Crown and The Crown Family
Karen and Arne Duncan
Lauren and Michael Erdin
Jenny Friedes and Steve Florsheim
Paula and Tim Friedman
Lara Frohlich and John Bremen
Jock Fullmer and the Fullmer Family Joy Fund
Arla and Joel Gomberg
Michael and Pamela Gordon Family Foundation
Barbara Goodman Manilow
Brian and Christina Greviskes
The Grodnick Family
Alison and Tom Hafner
David Herro and Jay Franke
Mariana and Paul Ingersoll
George Jasinski
Krissan and John Jennings
Lena and Andrew Jessen
Bruce and Marcia Johnson-Reid
Lori and Stephen Kaufman
Michael and Rosalind Keiser
Priscilla and Steven Kersten
Dr. Erik and Adrienne King
Catharyn Cutright and Randall W. Larrimore
John and Jill Levi
Peggy and Yung Bong Lim
Ami and Eric Liu
Nichole Lopez-Tackett and Jaron Parry-Tackett
Kim Lynch
Kerrie Maloney Laytin
Nicole and Brad Mann
Joe Mansueto and Rika Yoshida
Matthew D. Means
Liz and Constantine Mihas
Dara and Ross Milner
James Mitchell
Amy and Jay Novak
Cindy and Michael O'Connor
Georgy Ann and William Peluchiwski
Abby and Mason Phelps
Scott and Laurie Rose
Jalen Ross and Elizabeth LaBossiere
Diane Saltoun and Bruce Braun
The Smart Family Foundation of Illinois Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation
Katrina Veerhusen and Hugh R. McCombs
Sara Stone
Peg Zerega