What You'll Get
The Issue: Auditorium in Need of Renovation
More than 88% of students at George B. Swift Specialty School come from low-income households, according to data from Chicago Public Schools, and more than 47% have limited English-speaking skills. Yet the school’s Fine and Performing Arts Magnet program allows these children to overcome these obstacles, perform for their peers, and gain the self-confidence necessary for future success. However, the school’s auditorium, which is now a century old, has fallen into disrepair, making it an unwelcoming place for students to shine.
The Campaign: Replacing 100-Year-Old Auditorium Chairs
All donations to this Grassroots campaign will be used by Friends of Swift to help renovate George B. Swift Specialty School’s auditorium. Every $10 raised will go toward the purchase of a new chair to replace the existing, often broken-down chairs. These will join a fresh coat of paint to increase the aesthetics of the auditorium and make it an exciting place where children can find inspiration and be proud to perform.
The Fine Print
100% of donations goes directly to the organization. See Groupon Grassroots FAQ. Donations are automatically applied. Redeem online for personal acknowledgment. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Friends of Swift
George B. Swift Specialty School, located in Chicago's Edgewater Community, is no ordinary elementary. Every classroom is as likely to be filled with kids expressing themselves through paint as kids working on complex equations. That's because this pre-K through 8th-grade institution has integrated a Fine and Performing Arts Magnet program into its curriculum, helping its students tap into their creative energy, whether that involves theatre, music, art, or dance.
To further help these students achieve their full potential, a small group of parents and neighbors joined together in July of 2013 to create Friends of Swift. Since then, this grassroots movement has grown to include Local School Council members and staff, all of whom band together to bolster the school. And the ways they help are as varied as they are inventive, organizing fundraising events, rewarding teachers with small gifts and cards, cheering students on at sporting events, and hosting a monthly movie night for students.
Explore Edgewater
Groupon has partnered with the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce to offer this special collection from Edgewater merchants. The North Side neighborhood is home to one-of-a-kind shops such as Edgewater Workbench, where customers create custom gifts with 3D printing and laser cutting, and pioneering restaurants such as Uncommon Ground, home of the country’s first certified organic rooftop garden. Shop the full collection.