Jay It Forward Giving Day raises over $300K
Jay It Forward Giving Day 2026 at Elmhurst University raised $313,137 during the 24-hour fundraiser, thanks to more than 500 alums, friends and members of the campus community.
The event, held last month, raised money to support efforts across the campus. “Jay It Forward Giving Day demonstrates the strength of the Elmhurst University community and our shared commitment to advancing the University’s future,” Lia Kampman, vice president for Institutional Advancement shared via a news release.
The money will go toward athletics for EU’s 21 Division III teams for transportation, training equipment and other needs; the Learning and Success Academy, a post-secondary certificate program for young adults with differing abilities celebrating its 20th anniversary, for textbooks, digital learning tools and other resources; The Annual Fund, which provides student scholarships,program and operational costs and other university needs; and Choose Your Way to Jay It Forward, which supports university programs chosen by the donor, such as the Mill Theatre, Mock Trial program, academic areas, and Bluejay Nest Fund for student emergencies.
Army helicopter tech leads Memorial Day parade
William “Bill GTO” Nawrot will serve as grand marshall for the Western Springs Memorial Day parade, which steps off at 9 a.m. May 25 at 916 Hillgrove Ave.
Nawrot, who joined the Army in 1968 on his 19th birthday, served until 1970 in 1968-70 as a member of the 132nd Assault Support Helicopter Co. in Chu Lai, Vietnam, earning the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He performed maintenance repairs for 12 CH_47 Chinook helicopters as part of a five-man mechanics crew.
After the Army, he worked at Illinois Bell Telephone for 27 years and at MCI/Verizon for another 12 until his retirement in 2010.
Since he joined the Western Springs Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10778 in 2014, Nawrot has worked with the Memorial Day Parade Committee and was part of Operation Support the Troops America in Naperville.
Metra names Safety Contest winners
Area students had safety on their mind when they entered the 19th annual Safety Contest this spring, putting their imagination to work to educate the public about how to be safe around railroad tracks and crossings.
This year’s theme in the contest, open to children in kindergarten through 12th grade, was “Rail safety is not a game.” Up to $500 in prizes was awarded for original artwork that will be featured in Metra’s 2027 safety calendar and its Saturday/Sunday/holiday passes. First- place winners will be recognized at Metra’s board meeting June 18.
The People’s Choice vote was held on Instagram with winners from each grade competing in categories in the six-county region Metra serves. The public chose favorite posters from the top three from 10 regions represented by a Metra board member. The People’s Choice winner from each region will receive a $500 Amazon gift card and have their work featured in promotional materials. Valkyrie Dong of Elm School in Burr Ridge, won for Cook County.
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Area first-place winners ($500 Amazon gift card) included kindergartner Yiqian Gao, Holmes Primary School in Clarendon Hills; first grader Adhaven Kataruka, Lane Elementary School in Hinsdale; and seventh grader Roman Baranovski, The Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove.
Second-place winners ($250 Amazon card) included first grader David He-Candido, Tianto Art in Hinsdale; second grader Emmar Polasek, Elizabeth Ide Elementary School in Darien; third grader William Borgus, Lane Elementary School. Third-place winners ($100 Amazon gift card) are second grader Chloe Zhang and third grader Dylan Ho, Madison Elementary School in Hinsdale; fourth grader Juliana Chi, Oak Elementary School in Hinsdale; and seventh grader Jay Zan and eighth grader Jaya Wong, Tianto Art.
Park hosts grand opening, pools open soon
A grand reopening ceremony is planned for 10 a.m. May 23 at Anderson Park, 824 Hayes Ave. in Oak Park.
The park’s renovations were complete in the fall, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will unveil all the new amenities, which include an outdoor fitness area, upgraded playground, new features at the splashpad and new entrance to the northwest corner of the park. No registration is needed to attend.
Rehm Pool, 515 Garfield St., opens for the season May 23 and Ridgeland Pool, 415 Lake St., opens May 26. Anyone 1 and older must pay admission or have a pool pass. Both offer lap swims, swim classes and special events.
Fees are $8 for lap swim for anyone 16 and older, $15 for daily admission and $13 for pool pass visitors. Annual passes cost $82 for residents and $64 for nonresidents.
Details are at 708-725-2000.
Get car seats checked at in Palos Park
Parents and others concerned about car seat safety are invited to a free community car seat inspection event from 1 to 3 p.m. May 31 at the Palos Park Metra parking lot, 12200 S. 82nd Ave.
Palos Park Police Department Officer Rebecca Duffy and certified child passenger safety seat technicians will be on hand to check a child’s car seat or help install one. Information is at [email protected].
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