Friends of Tubman
Friends of Tubman is an all-volunteer group of parents and community members dedicated to making Harriet Tubman Elementary a great school for all students through fundraising and community outreach events.
Thank you to all of our generous donors. We are so grateful for all the support over the years. Donations to our General Fund are enthusiastically accepted anytime.
Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive information on upcoming fundraisers, community events, and to learn how to can get involved.
Upcoming Events & Fundraisers
Print and complete the flyer below sharing why we love our Tubman staff!
Spring Fling: ALL the Details!
What: Spring Fling is FOT's annual end of year party and fundraiser.
When: Saturday, May 10th from 6-9pm
Where: Rooftop Deck at Lakeshore Sport and Fitness, a large indoor/outdoor space with a beautiful view of downtown (see photos from past years).
Who: Open to all adult Tubman community members and staff.
What to expect: Yummy food, drinks, mingling with Tubman community members, music and dancing. The silent auction will be running online and we have some extra special live auction items up for bidding.
Is bidding required?: We hope some of the silent auction items will pique your interest but there is no requirement to bid in the auction.
What do I wear: Attire ranges from dressy-casual to cocktail, some chose to lean into the florals to tie with the Spring Fling theme. Most important is that everyone is comfortable and enjoys the evening.
I'll buy my ticket at the door?: Unfortunately, tickets CANNOT be purchased at the end; tickets are on sale until April 29th.
More questions?: Email FOT
Help with the Spring Fling Fundraiser!
This year's Spring Fling silent auction will run from April 30th-May 10th and we need lots of help securing fun and fantastic items to be bid on!
Auction Items Needed
Do you have something you might like to donate to the auction? A voucher or item from your business? Tickets to a sporting event? Wine package? A favorite restaurant willing to donate a gift certificate? Please complete this form to share the item or experience.
Or, would you like to help with outreach to businesses to secure auction items? Please email FOT.
Host a Party or Event!
Again this year, our auction will feature Spring Fling Parties. Spring Fling Parties are parent/caregiver and teacher hosted activities or events for other families to attend; families will be able to buy entry to these events as a part of the auction and the 100% of purchase price to attend will go to FOT. Some examples may be an ice cream social, a painting party, a "moms and margaritas" night on the host's patio, etc.
Please CLICK HERE to sign up or for more information
Buy Spring Musical Merch!
We are thrilled to support the Tubman Spring Musical, Mary Poppins, with the sale of merchandise. Funds raised will benefit the Performing Arts department and future productions at Tubman.
Click the images below to purchase merchandise now!
Shop Our Spirit Wear Store Anytime!
Our spirit wear store is open year-round to meet all of your Tubman-gear needs! Check out the many items and designs available and remember that every order benefits Tubman.
CLICK HERE to shop now!
TOGETHER We Raised $76,751 for Tubman...
WOW! We set an ambitious fundraising goal of $30,000 for our Annual I
Tubman Pledge Drive and together we raised $76,751!
- We received gifts from 106 different donors
- Your donations ranged from $20 to $5000
- We received our single largest gift ever of $30,000 in the form of a match challenge which we met within days
- Dozens of you gave for the first time
- We saw support from our staff, their families, your extended families and former community members
- And your funds went further when you submitted more dollars for corporate matches than seen in any previous fundraiser
Over the past three weeks, we've witnessed the incredible strength and unwavering support of our community. This effort is a powerful testament to what we can achieve together, and it represents not just what we've accomplished, but the limitless potential of this remarkable school.
And Showed How Much WeTubman
Our students submitted over 150 hearts filled with the MANY reasons that they Tubman.
They shared their love for our community, friends, teachers, Principal Hammaker and AP Wiley, the gaga ball pit, Popcorn Fridays, their feelings of support and safety at Tubman, sports teams, our food service staff, diversity, Mr. Harris and Mr. Bonner, classrooms, recess and so much more!
We have displayed a selection of the hearts on a banner in the hallway and invite you to bask in our students' love.
18th Annual Tubman Fun Run
We set an aggressive goal to raise $40,000 during our 18th Annual Tubman Fun Run and we are thrilled to report that we surpassed it, raising OVER $56,000!! These important funds will go to supporting our school to meet CPS budget shortfalls in the areas of curriculum, staffing and technology. Thank you to our students, teachers, staff, families, community, sponsors and more for your support!
Thank You Sponsors!
A HUGE thank you to our incredible and generous sponsors. Thank you for supporting the 18th Annual Tubman Fun Run.
Popcorn Friday is Back!
We are no longer accepting subscriptions but popcorn can be purchased by paying $2 in cash each Popcorn Friday.
Our Popcorn Friday popping crew is looking for volunteers! We pop popcorn and deliver to classrooms. No experience necessary. Laughs guaranteed. Click here to volunteer!. Note that all volunteers must be approved CPS Level 2 volunteer (it's easy and quick, don't worry!). Volunteer information can be found here.
Ongoing Fundraising
Thank you to all our generous donors over the years. We are so grateful for all the support. Donations to our General Fund are enthusiastically accepted anytime. Please click here to donate now.
Assistance Program Fund
FOT is pleased to announce our second annual school Assistance Program Fund aimed at supporting our entire school community; both staff and families.
This fund has been created by both FOT & Administration with the goal of supporting families who have been suffering financial hardships during these unprecedented times. The fund aims to offer immediate assistance with various items and services such as:
- Emergency food, clothing and household items
- School supplies
Any additional items not specifically addressed above will be looked at on a case by case basis.
ALL REQUESTS WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.
For more information and to receive immediate support, please email: assistanceprogramfund@gmail.com
About Friends of Tubman
Accomplishments
FOT has provided financial support for a number of initiatives that would have otherwise been cut due to budget constraints.
Membership
All parents and community members are welcome and encouraged to join Friends of Tubman. Your participation, support and ideas can help shape Harriet Tubman Elementary into the school you want it to be.
All meetings will be on Zoom for the foreseeable future. A link will be emailed prior to each meeting.
Meeting dates for the 2024/2025 year:
Friends of Tubman holds monthly meetings that are open to all members of the community. All meetings are scheduled for 8am at Tubman and via Zoom
August 29, 2024
September 19, 2024
October 17, 2024
November 21, 2024
January 16, 2025
February 20, 2025
March 20, 2025
April 17, 2025
May 22, 2025
For more information, please contact FOT President, Charlotte Thoresen
Strategic Plan for Fundraising
In the last 5 years, we have raised over $500,000, which helps cover CPS budget gaps, strengthen our diverse community and support the school’s Strategic Plan for Fundraising. Tubman Elementary School’s fundraising goals are all directed towards supporting the Continuous Improvement Work Plan and the school vision and mission.
Short-term goals include funding arts, drama and dance programming, as well as supporting vital staff positions, investing in classroom technology, providing science lab supplies and repairing playground equipment. Long-term goals include renovating the gymnasium/auditorium.
Fundraising Initiatives
FOT supports our school with a variety of fundraisers and community events throughout the school year. See below for info on our annual fundraisers.
Each fall, the Fun Run, now in its 17th year, encourages family, friends and neighbors to sponsor students while highlighting our school's commitment to healthy habits. The 2024 Fun Run fall fundraiser, raised over $56,000!
In winter, the I ♥ IB Tubman Pledge Drive gives families the chance to show their appreciation for the school and what they love most. Families are encouraged to donate any amount they're comfortable with, whether it's a one-time amount or monthly.
Spring is host to two fundraisers: the Online Auction and Gala. The annual auction gives school families, their friends and neighbors across Chicago, plus over 300,000 bidders nationwide, the chance to bid on great items while supporting our school. The Spring Gala is an adults-only night full of fun, bidding and refreshments held in Chicago. Our 2022 Gala raised over $50,000.
Community outreach events include monthly Dining nights at popular area restaurants, with a portion of proceeds going to the school. It's a delicious way to support local businesses while benefiting our neighborhood school. Past participants include Lou Malnati's, Panera, McDonalds, Potbelly, Chipotle, Pockets and DMK Burger.
Friends of Tubman Board
Nicholette Maggio
Vice President
Sandra Minea
Treasurer
Jennifer Kaczmarek
Tara Karmin
Karla Lombardi
Brittany Kersey
Ana Gallardo
Becky Abramowitz
Friends of Tubman Patti Lenkov Community Award
We are thrilled to share creation of the Friends of Tubman Patti Lenkov Community Award and announce the 2024 award winner who was recognized at graduation last week
Over her 15 years as a Tubman parent, Patti has given innumerable hours to the Tubman community in a multitude of roles, including serving as the President of Friends of Tubman for the last seven years. Patti’s legacy is one of service, community building, inclusivity, collaboration and leadership for Tubman.
The Friends of Tubman Patti Lenkov Community Award recognizes one graduating student who epitomizes these values and has contributed to strengthening the Tubman school community, inside and outside of the classroom. The 2024 award winner is Ainsley Waguespack.
Friends of Tubman is an all-volunteer group of parents and community members dedicated to making Harriet Tubman Elementary a great school for all students through fundraising and community outreach events. Friends of Tubman operates independently of the school as a non-profit 501(c)(3).
