The Highland Park Education Foundation presented HPISD with a check for $1.7 million – which will be used entirely to fund teacher and staff salaries – at the district’s August 20 board of trustees meeting.

This is the second consecutive year the foundation has donated $1.7 million to HPISD. The contribution was raised through donations from families, alumni and property owners during the annual Mad for Plaid campaign. Each year, Mad for Plaid funds support the district’s most pressing needs, foundation executive director Meg Boyd told the board.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, President Maryjane Bonfield thanked the foundation’s leadership and staff, as well as the community members who participated in the campaign, saying it was “incredible” that the district could count on such a generous donation each year.

“We know it’s coming. We couldn’t run our district without them, and we thank you for that,” she said. “I know it’s a lot of work, and it takes a lot of commitment from community members and incredible generosity.”

The co-chairs of the 2023-2024 Mad for Plaid campaign were Claire and Andy Baker, Chris Palmer and Terry Steger, Kamela and Kenneth Aboussie, and Mary Katharine and Martin Gill.