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Ridgewood Foundation event supports scholarships
Yasmine Nizar Hasan (right) received a scholarship from director of Ridgewood Foundation Jacqueline Gregorio this past June. She was one of several scholarship recipients announced. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media
Wine tasting event
The Ridgewood Foundation is holding a wine tasting to raise money for scholarships for its high school graduates.
The event also will include a silent auction, wine raffle and hors d’oeuvres buffet.
Time: 6 p.m.
Date: Thursday, Dec. 6
Location: Mullen’s Bar and Grill, 8313 W. Lawrence Ave. in Norridge
Cost: $35
Contact: (708) 456-4242 for additional information and ticket reservations
Updated: December 30, 2012 6:32AM
NORRIDGE — For more than a decade, the Ridgewood Foundation worked to make the high school experience a rewarding one.
With help and support from the community and the private sector, the foundation provides scholarships for students at Ridgewood High School, which serves Norridge and Harwood Heights, said foundation member Joanna Skupien.
The foundation also provided money for the Freshman Experience bus trip this year. The two-week summer program helps incoming freshmen transition to high school through various intellectual activities while giving students a chance to familiarize themselves with the building.
To raise money to supports its programs, the foundation is holding its first wine tasting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at Mullen’s Bar and Grill, 8313 W. Lawrence Ave. in Norridge.
Proceeds from the event, which includes a silent auction and wine raffle, will be used for scholarships.
The foundation has been around since 2001, said member Jacqueline Gregario. At one time, it helped the Parents’ Club host a post-prom party.
“We used to help support other programs, but now we pretty much concentrate on the scholarships,” she said.
The foundation scholarships cover a broad spectrum.
“There are all kinds of scholarships, and students may apply for more than one,” Skupien said.
In addition to those based on academics, the foundation awards scholarships to those who have overcome exceptional challenges, Gregario said.
“We try to make it so that a variety of students, who may not have been at the top of their class, still have that opportunity for post-secondary education,” Skupien said.
That opportunity applies to all educational options available, including training in various trades.
