Riverside Brookfield High School’s Educational Foundation (RBEF) is aimed at providing grants for students and teachers for learning opportunities. RBEF hosts events such as the Telephone every year in order to raise money.
David Monti is a zoology and biology teacher at Riverside Brookfield High School and has been president of RBEF for three years as well as a volunteer for the foundation for the last 32 years.
“It was created back in the ‘80s when, financially, the school was not doing so well. The crux of it was to raise money for things that the school couldn’t afford or budget for. From that point, it grew into this entity of extra educational opportunities for kids and for teachers,” Monti said.
This year, RBEF has held multiple charitable events to raise money to fund the educational grants. In the summer, the organization had a table for residency and also had a table during homecoming to raise awareness for grant and scholarship applications for students and parents. RBEF also hosted a new fundraiser this year with RB alum Trent James performing a magic show in November. The foundation additionally held the La Grange Antique Mall popup gallery fundraiser, which showcased a long relationship with the La Grange Antique Mall that has changed over the course of RBEF’s existence.
“So we had, in the old days, the traditional telethon, where we had all these little prizes that were donated like antiques, art, and things that people could win if they pledged a certain amount of money,” Monti said.
RBEF held their 2024 annual telethon on March 16, which was broadcasted on RB’s educational television network, RBTV. RBTV broadcasted from 5 and 9 p.m. Students were able to perform for the first two hours of the show and then Lynskynard, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, played afterwards. A raffle was held during the live event where all the winners, either partially or fully, donated their winnings back to the foundation.
“I’ve always been one of the hosts. I’ve also performed a couple of times over the years for the telethon. Around 2018 or 2019 is when they asked me to join the board. Back then, I was more involved with the planning and the decision making and not just a host,” Monti said.
Grant applications from RBEF were due May 2, and those who received money were notified on May 9. Applications can be found, as well as other information, on RBEF.tv. Grants are given out to students, staff, and faculty who are looking for learning opportunities. Nowadays, most applicants receive most of their requested grants as long as it’s for an educational purpose. In the last three years since COVID-19, all grants have been funded in full by the foundation. RBEF’s goal is to enrich students and staff at RB and for them to bring back what they learn to benefit the school and community as a whole.
“In the past, maybe the school didn’t have money to send the teacher to that workshop. We would provide money for them to go. Then, they bring stuff. You bring that experience back to RB, both as a teacher and as a student. You bring that experience back to your classmates and to your classes,” Monti said.
Maiana Nelson is a senior at RB, and in August, she was invited to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, also known as COP28. Due to having to self fund the trip, Nelson came across RBEF as she was looking for community or school scholarships. However, since the timing of the COP28 was much before the deadline for RBEF’s grants, Nelson reached out to Monti to see if quick funding was possible. After writing a one-page letter, detailing what her role at the conference would be and what she would bring back to the Riverside Brookfield community, Nelson was granted the funding in full.
“Mr. Monti then presented this to the foundation, and there was overwhelming support and excitement to have an RB student attending this conference to represent the school. They pulled on some extra funding that they had for situations like this and supported my whole portion of funding. I was super grateful to have so much support from the foundation to make this incredible experience possible,” Nelson said.
However, for RBEF, there are not enough students and parents who know about the grants they are able to provide. In order to give grants and support the education of the community, RBEF needs more awareness and support to continue to help enrich our community and school’s education.
“We’re very grateful and appreciative of the alumni who donate money. We can’t do what we do without the support of people, so hopefully we can keep on doing what we do,” Monti said.
