FOSW: Summer ‘26 Report Card
Lunch with Friends in Week 0 for Faculty and Staff
In the spirit of transparency, we’re starting a new tradition — the Friend of Skinner West Report Card. Each quarter, we’ll summarize the work we’ve been doing so far and how we’re making a difference for our superstar students.
Follow along to learn more about the work we do.
1.Welcomed a Brand New Board
In July 2026, a brand new board for Friends of Skinner West was established. We hit the ground running, meeting up to break the ice and get acclimated to our positions as we started the new year.
2.Executed a Rebrand for FOSW
We want Friends of Skinner West to do amazing work, and we want it to feel more personal. We’re friends on a shared mission. Kristian and Lexi used their marketing and branding backgrounds to:
Create a new FOSW website
Update the logo, create new graphics and icons, and refresh the new brand colors.
Create an email marketing program, blog, and update the social platform for increased communication and reach.
Create a new spirit store full of merch that you actually want to wear. You can apparel in youth and adult sizes, cups, t-shirts, tote bags, and more!
3.Provided Critical Fundraising Support with Magic of Mondays
In direct response to the budget cuts affecting Chicago Public Schools and Skinner West, we stepped up to launch the Magic of Mondays Campaign. We set a highly ambitious goal to raise money that will be specifically designated to provide student instructional and support aide positions. As of August 19, we’ve raised close to $30,000. More information to come soon on how this money will support students during the 2026=2027 school year.
4.Assessed the Need For FOSW Support
We wanted to know what the school and students actually need. Over the summer, we met with school leadership to assess technology, classroom needs, building, and external facility needs. This helps us set our fundraising goals for the year and step in to cover any immediate costs so that the school year takes off seamlessly.
In August 2026, we announced that all faculty will have access to a classroom support stipend and created a new portal for requests and reimbursements. This creates more equity, allows teachers to purchase what they know their classrooms need, and makes our partnership easier as we work together to ensure all students are supported.
5.Brainstormed New Fundraising Goals and Ways to Engage our Community
We put all our brains to good use to develop new fundraising initiatives and ways to engage the Skinner West community. We sent a survey out to families and asked what they’d like to do this school year. The response will help full our upcoming work. Stay tuned for more news as we roll things out this school year.
