That’s the Spirit: Foundation Supports Lake Forest Students for 40 Years
- Liz Weithas
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Liz Weithas
I grew up in Lake Forest and benefited from many Spirit of 67 Foundation grants. I have vivid memories of the inflatable planetarium dome appearing in the school library, crawling in and feeling amazed by the night sky while learning about constellations and the rotation of the earth.
Now, as a parent raising two children in District 67, I see the joy on my daughter’s face as she experiences the visiting scientist and excavates dinosaur bones and learns about electric currents, and I hear the amusement in my son’s voice as he tells me stories shared by the visiting author.
A Boundless Adventures field trip was made possible by the Spirit of 67 Foundation.
The Spirit of 67 Foundation was founded in 1985 by passionate Lake Forest parents and community members who recognized the potential impact of supporting our students’ learning experiences within District 67 schools through additional resources and experiences. Forty years later, the Spirit organization continues to thrive, standing firmly on the shoulders of a caring community committed to fostering educational excellence and exceptional opportunities that prepare our students to be the leaders of tomorrow. Over the last 40 years, nearly $7 million has been invested in our students’ futures through more than 900 grants, which support educational excellence. Each year, more than 1,700 Lake Forest students are directly impacted by these grants, with nearly 80 percent of families participating in our fundraising efforts across all four district schools.
As an independent 501(c)(3) fundraising organization, the Spirit Foundation plays a vital role in the daily lives of Lake Forest students. Our mission is to raise funds and acquire resources that provide enriching, educational, and cultural experiences for the students, parents, faculty, and staff of Lake Forest School District 67 that might not otherwise be available or accessible financially.
The Spirit of 67 Board, made up of 65 volunteers, serves the foundation's mission and gives back to our community. All of the funds raised by the Spirit fuel the Grants Program, enabling a range of educational experiences and resources to support the foundation's mission and promote excellence in education throughout District 67.
Lisa Vlamis, a teacher at Cherokee School, shows a young student how to make pottery, thanks to a potter's wheel provided by a Spirit of 67 Foundation grant.
The Grant Cycle starts each January with staff, students, administration, and community members submitting grant applications that support student learning. A committee evaluates each application and awards the chosen grants in April, using the funds raised during that school year.
There is a huge diversity in the types of grants that are awarded. Recent examples include pollinator gardens, movable double-sided library bookshelves with increased display space, artifacts borrowed from the Chicago Field Museum, a potter’s wheel, and a visiting filmmaker. Where there is inspiration and a desire to elevate the in-school learning experience outside of the school’s budget, Spirit helps find a way to make it happen. (Grant applications are currently open for submission.) Over the coming months, a number of exciting projects are in the works. The annual Crosstown Challenge wraps up Dec. 31, where the district schools have a friendly rivalry to see which school’s families have the highest participation, and concludes with prize money for the schools, bragging rights, and a kid-approved popsicle party. The Paddle Tournament returns this spring, where teams compete for fun and spectators enjoy food and drinks, live music, and boutique shopping featuring items from local artisans, jewelers, and designers.
Our flagship fundraising event, the biannual Home & Garden Tour, returns in September 2026. Last year, the event raised over $100,000, with more than 600 guests experiencing five stunning local homes and gardens during the four-hour experience.
Spirit of 67 continuously accepts donations. QR codes on our communications link directly to our website for more information and how to get involved. Starting this year, you can raise money while online shopping through a partnership with ShopRaise. By visiting shopraise.com/support/thespiritof67foundation, anyone can download the ShopRaise app and shop from more than 2,000 retailers or choose from about 250 gift cards. Each time a purchase is made, the retailer donates a portion of the proceeds back to the Spirit of 67 Foundation.
For more information or to donate to the Spirit of 67, please visit
