HELP US TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF CHILDREN!

The Garrett-Evanston Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program is a six-week summer literacy program designed to help scholars fall in love with reading and prevent the summer reading slide. Last year, 80% of our scholars maintained or increased their instructional reading level, and they learned that they can make a difference in themselves, their families, and communities, nation, and world!

The program, sponsored by Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, is designed specifically for elementary students who are currently enrolled in the 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade in Evanston’s School District 65. This free program include small classes; breakfast, lunch, and snacks; field trips; and a lot of fun! The program fosters a love of reading, increased self-esteem, and positive attitudes towards learning.

Classes are held in the 5th Ward of Evanston. This year, eight college/seminary students will receive training to serve as Servant Leader Interns (SLI) for the program, which is grounded in a model curriculum that includes five essential components:

· High quality academic enrichment

· Parent and family involvement

· Civic engagement and social action

· Intergenerational leadership development

· Nutrition, health and mental health

Your contributions to our program will help to pay the following expenses:

$20,000 Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC), libraries for six classrooms, one resource library for 60 children. The classroom libraries are used daily in the IRC and each scholar takes home one book per week for each of the six weeks of the program for a total of six books per scholar.

$20,000 Pays the stipends for the eight Servant Leader Interns (SLI). Each SLI is a young adult between the ages of 18-35 who is in college or graduate school. The Garrett-Evanston CDF Freedom Schools Program not only serves children but also serves as a leadership development program for young adults. They receive training from CDF in the Integrative Reading Program, they are the primary leaders and teachers of the curriculum, and they serve as role models for the scholars. Each classroom has one SLI and ten scholars.

$9,000 Pays the stipends of the Project Director and the Site Coordinator. The Project Director serves as the community liaison, and the Site Coordinator supervises the day-to-day operations and serves as the SLI supervisor.

$12,000 Pays the program expenses of the program including classroom supplies and set-up, afternoon activities, field trips, and parent meetings.

$9,000 Pay for travel to Knoxville for the 8 SLI for National Training, for travel and lodging for staff (Executive Directors) to attend national training, and for expenses related to local training.

We welcome your support in helping scholars fall in love with reading and increasing their reading ability while having fun in a caring and supportive environment. Thank you for your investment in the lives of children.

Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary

Fundraising Campaigns

Georgia Harkness Giving Day

Class of 2018 Class Gift

Garrett-Evanston CDF Freedom Schools Program

Multiple Teams Campaigns

Garrett-Evangelical Class Giving