Proceeds from New Trier business-class projects put to good use

New Trier High School business students got a lesson in philanthropy on Wednesday, May 3, at the Northfield campus.

In a partnership with Radical Generosity, the intro to business students made activity kits and blankets to be given to underserved communities in Chicagoland. The project was the brainchild of the school’s business education teachers, who wanted to roll their lessons into the a portion of the school motto: “to commit … lives to the service of humanity,” said teacher Kristi Fischer.

Activities on May 3 included making no-sew fleece blankets and toiletry kits for those experiencing homelessness, summer-essential kits (bubbles, sunscreen, sunglasses, sandals, Frisbee) for students in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, and birthday kits (cake mix, plates, napkins, frosting, etc.) for users of area food pantries.

The supplies were purchased using funds collected in two business-education projects, said Fischer.

She said learning about profit margins, business students bought candy and resold it to friends and community members, resulting in more than $3,000 for the program. And then leading up the charity event, the department opened a donation page to fund the blankets and kits, as well as additional funding to the food pantries.

The donation page garnered more than $5,000 in a week, which “was a bit of shock and awe for us,” Fischer said. After the purchase of the activity materials, remaining funds will be donated directly to Radical Generosity, she said.

Radical Generosity Chicago is a nonprofit founded in Wilmette that supports low-income, and food- and housing-insecure communities across Chicagoland.

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