Beyond the Books marks 25 years with celebration

Vickie Robertson and Barry Reilly
Distrist 87 Barry Reilly commended Beyond the Books President Vicki Robertson for the foundation’s efforts to help fund classroom projects. (Photo by Patti Penn/WJBC)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – If you ever donated to the local Beyond the Books foundation, you have a chance to see how that money has been put to good use in the classroom.

The Bloomington-based foundation is hosting a 25th anniversary celebration on Feb. 25 at Evans Junior High in Bloomington.

“A lot of educators who have written grants will be there that day and that is what that particular day is for, is to showcase these educators who have received grants and show off these projects they have been doing,” Beyond the Books President Vickie Robertson said.

Robertson told WJBC’s Patti Penn the foundation has donated close to $550,000 to 725 innovative projects in Unit 5 and District 87 since its founding in 1992.

PODCAST: Listen to Patti’s interview with Robertson and District 87 superintendent Barry Reilly on WJBC.

“These kids are our future and anything we can do to help encourage them and keep that enthusiasm going for them so there are new ways to learn and they will take advantage of that,” Robertson said.

The event will also includes games for kids and one of its grant recipients, a rock climbing wall at the school.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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