FOR SCHOOLS
Open letter to all Oak Park - River Forest public school professionals
For nearly a century Amity has seen to it that our funds arrive in time – so an unexpected economic hardship does not derail a family, or a child’s dreams.
The economic security of many families has been shaken during the pandemic. As schools get back to “almost normal” there will undoubtedly be some kids whose families have experienced sudden economic hardship in these challenging times. Many will be protagonists in this drama for the first time in their lives. Their academic performance and social behaviors could be impacted in some way.
Luckily experienced teachers, nurses, social workers, and principals will have the insight to notice the signs of a child in difficulty. However, knowing how to help quickly and quietly might not be clear. If we do our job right, Amity will be on the top of their list when they seek resources for prompt and confidential assistance. Their list will be short, in any event. Amity is unique.
For assistance, school nurses and social workers should contact our Director of Philanthropy:
Amity fills a unique gap.
As our website homepage says, what distinguishes us is the fact that red-tape simply does not exist. There are no lengthy questionnaires and forms to fill out to see if a family qualifies for assistance. Amity has two simple rules about who they can assist: our bylaws stipulate that we can only help families 1) who are not receiving economic support from government subsidized programs and 2) whose children are going to public schools in Oak Park and River Forest.
We are flexible. We offer help on a case-by-case basis.
In the future, we might extend our reach beyond public schools. As for how we can help, we have no strict limits on what kind of assistance we can give. Vision exams and glasses have comprised the bulk of requests over the years. However, given these challenging moments, there could be children with needs we have not yet seen or imagined. We decide on a case-by-case basis.
Amity procedures
Amity procedures could not be simpler: they start with a concerned school professional who has a hunch that a child has a short-term, but critical need. They send an email or pick up the phone and chat with us. If we can help, the names of the family and child remain with the school contact and Amity. If assistance is provided, no record appears in school documents. This is particularly important to “Amity Families” who are not receiving government assistance and are unprepared for their economic difficulties.
In the past, various costs not covered by health insurance have been addressed as have been sudden, temporary cases of homelessness. Amity is here to listen, evaluate, and see if we can assist the family who might need a little help. If we are unable to provide assistance for any reason (e.g. medical and dental needs are often referred to other agencies) we can be a useful resource. In any event - let’s talk. Please, reach out to us to find out what we can do together - so no family or child falls between the cracks. Use the email in the red box above.
Out of the ordinary requests
Please keep in mind that it is not beyond our scope to make a small, but valuable contribution to large, public school/children-centered projects where multiple funding sources are being sought.
In the decades our Amity Philanthropic Fund has been in existence, our volunteers have nurtured special relationships with your school professionals. They have kept in touch as best as they could. However, as new people come on board in your institution and replace someone we’ve worked with, we have not always been kept in the loop. Hopefully, our newly launched website will prevent any lack of continuity in our relationship with your school.
Your partnership has been greatly appreciated!
We will soon be sending a brief description of Amity’s services with an announcement of our website URL. We propose that this be included in any “resource list” that your student support team receives. This will ensure that they will know to contact us when an “Amity situation” arises – a situation for which prompt assistance might prove to be invaluable. We can only work through you – so we can honestly say that as we approach our centennial year – our success also belongs to our Amity Schools for nearly 100 years!