Imagine you're eight years old and an accomplished architect regularly visits your school classroom and helps you design a building. Or a renowned astronomer teaches you to follow the planets and make a mock comet. Or an award-winning artist helps you write and perform a play about the Underground Railroad. You're having so much fun that you don't realize you're learning math, science or social studies!

District 97 students don't have to imagine these scenarios. For 21 years, scores of children have benefited from Oak Park Education Foundation (OPEF) programs, which tap the remarkable talent and expertise of generous local professionals. OPEF brings area architects, scientists, artists, and engineers into District 97 classrooms, opening young minds to new ways of thinking and learning.

Every year we expand and enrich our unique, hands-on programs: Vex Robotics, Architecture Adventure, Global Village, Art Start, and Geared Up. Because they take place mostly in everyday classrooms, OPEF programs reach ALL Oak Park public school children. Our newest endeavor, BASE Camp, has further expanded our reach by inspiring kids to think and experiment during the summer.

Please enable us to keep our valuable programs vital by clicking here to make a fully tax-deductible contribution to OPEF. To learn what your donation pays for, click here. Help a child discover that she has a passion for engineering or robotics or that he has a talent for drumming or painting. Your generous support does make a difference.