Aurora East Educational Foundation

The Aurora East Educational Foundation (AEEF) was established in 1991. The mission of the Foundation, as identified in the articles of incorporation, is “to provide charitable and benevolent grants, loans and aid to Aurora East Public School District 131 in order to enhance the educational opportunities of all students in District 131 schools.” In 1991 a 501(c)(3) non-profit Foundation was formed when the City of Aurora welcomed the Hollywood Casino and apportioned $275,000 of Developer Donations to the Aurora East Educational Foundation as a method for accepting tax deductible donations. Then-Mayor Thomas Weisner, AEEF Board Chairman Larry Malaker and Treasurer Mark Truemper were instrumental in establishing the AEEF as a mechanism to accept tax deductible donations.

Each year the AEEF provides Mini Grants to educators throughout the district for supplemental classroom needs. The Foundation will fund 29 Mini Grants this year and is on track to award nearly 50 Scholarships to deserving East Aurora High School students upon graduation in the spring.

Funding for these programs is provided through donations and sponsorships of four annual fundraisers; (1) The AEEF Golf Outing in July; (2) The Tom-A-Hawk Turkey Trot 5K Run, a collaboration between the AEEF and the A+ Foundation of West Aurora School District 129 in November; (3) The Giving Tuesday Fun(d)raiser and Raffle where donors and scholarship recipients connect and share success stories; and (4) Employee Withholding and the Tomcat Affinity Card program.

The AEEF is operated by a volunteer board of directors with oversight from the District 131 Superintendent and ex-officio member appointees who play a critical role in aligning the goals of the Foundation with those of District 131.

For additional information, please contact information at information@aeef131.net.