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
WHEW, What a Year!
From reconnecting at the Back to School Bash to enjoying the delicious churros for the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration to having fun at our Annual free Fall Fest, to giving back through Winterland Wishes, laughing together at the Movie Night, dining to support Tubman each month and gathering for our community events, we have had a wonderful year bringing our Tubman family together.
Each of our three major fundraisers surpassed their financial goal, raising over $200,000 to support Tubman. This year, fundraising dollars bridged CPS-budget gaps, ensuring our students had the curriculum and educational subscriptions they needed. And these funds brought authors to Tubman, supported after-school programs, supplied recess equipment, helped us thank our staff throughout the year, brought our end-of-year Field Day to a new level and so much more!
While some years our fundraising dollars are needed for exciting new technology or facility upgrades, the inadequate budget provided by CPS for our next school year has us facing shortfalls that impact our school’s staffing. So, in the coming year, we will proudly support the most important thing of all, ensuring our students have the teachers and staff they need and deserve that meet the high standards our families expect from Tubman.
This school year was a great one and we are excited for the year that comes. Let’s continue coming together as a community and supporting our school. We wish our Tubman community a wonderful summer break and look forward to seeing you at the Back to School Bash in August!
Spirit Wear Store Open Year-Round
Tubman's Spirit Wear store will remain open all summer.
Choose from hundreds of designs and garments that are delivered to your home in days. All purchases benefit Tubman
2024-2025 Major Fundraisers
Thank YOU for a Great Spring Fling Event
What a night! Our Spring Fling was a HUGE success, raising more than $67,000 for Tubman, and we could not have done it without the outstanding support of our amazing community! We appreciate you donating, attending, bidding and buying, dancing, and helping us create such a wonderful evening. Special thanks to our FOT board volunteers and to those who helped secure items for our online auction. Thank you to our live auctioneer Brent Gaeta for bringing wit and excitement to the evening!
Thank you to our amazing Tubman staff for joining us and also offering to host wonderful experiences for our families to bid on. And nothing would be possible without the ongoing support of administration and LSC.
We were thrilled to announce that Cubs Charities will again support our community with their All-Star donation of $25,000. We are so grateful for their generous support year after year. Thank you to Lakeshore Sport and Fitness for hosting us and to our very generous sponsors, including the UPS Store and Trader Joe's and all those who contributed!
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.
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 were thrilled to present the Friends of Tubman Patti Lenkov Community Award at graduation this year.
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. 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 2025 award winner is Alexa Michaels.
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).
