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.

Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive information on upcoming fundraisers, community events, and to learn how to can get involved.

'FYI from FOT' Mailing List

Upcoming Events & Fundraisers

Spring Fling Fundraising Event - THANK YOU!

Wow, what a night! Our Spring Fling was a HUGE success, raising more than $50,000, 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 Friends of Tubman Spring Fling committee, Patti Lenkov, Ali McGannon, Charlotte Thoresen, Kimberly Beck, Ileana Inserni and Dana Carman, for planning and executing the event and auction, and Janet Olivo for her tremendous efforts in obtaining many of the items in our online auction. Thank you to our FOT board for additional assistance and input. And nothing would be possible without the ongoing support of administration, staff and LSC.

A huge debt of gratitude to Cubs Charities for presenting our school with a $25K check that will go toward curriculum and educational support materials. Thank you to Lakeshore Sport and Fitness for hosting us and to our very generous sponsors, including Murphy's Bleachers, the UPS Store, Trader Joe's and all those who contributed! We have the best school spirit around!

Teacher Appreciation Week: This Week

Tubman's Teacher Appreciation Week is off to a great start! First and foremost, we'd like to send a HUGE thank you to all the families who signed up to provide Teacher Favorite Things gifts! As always, we couldn't do it without our awesome community behind us.

Our adventure kicked off on Monday morning with a pep rally and some student-voted special awards for our awesome teachers! There will be special treats and gifts every day to show the Tubman staff how much we appreciate all they do.

Ongoing Fundraising

Thank you to all our generous donors over the years. We are so grateful for all the support. To donate to our GENERAL FUND, please follow the link.

Donate Here

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

For those who would like to donate to this fund:

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THIS FUND.

Assistance Program fund flyer ENGLISH TUBMAN

Assistance Program fund flyer TUBMAN Spanish

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 2022/2023 year:

August 25
September 29
October 27
December 1
January 19
February 23
March 30
April 27
May 25 - Annual Elections

For more information, please contact FOT President, Patti Lenkov

Contact FOT about volunteer opportunities

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.

View the Tubman Strategic Plan Here

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 16th year, encourages family, friends and neighbors to sponsor students while highlighting our school's commitment to healthy habits. The 2022 Fun Run fall fundraiser, raised just under $50,000

In winter, the I ♥ IB Bulldogs 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 Dine Out nights (currently Dine IN 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.

FYI from FOT Newsletters