Skinner West School, a Chicago Public School, has been dedicated to educating students from Kindergarten through 8th grade in the vibrant West Loop community for many years. With a diverse city-wide student body of over 1,000 students, Skinner West consistently achieves outstanding academic success. However, as with many schools in the Chicago Public School system, there are gaps in funding for technology, arts, facilities, and extracurricular activities.

To help meet the needs of Skinner Superstars, Friends of Skinner West (FOSW) was founded in 2011 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization composed of volunteers, including dedicated parents, staff and community members. FOSW’s mission is to help meet and exceed the needs of the school improvement plan, while nurturing students through enrichment programs, extracurricular activities, educational opportunities and access to essential resources. Each year, we strive to create new opportunities that support the growth and success of every student.

One of our primary fundraising events is our annual Spring Gala, which features silent auctions, music, dancing, food and more. Every dollar raised directly contributes to school’s needs for the upcoming year and beyond. Thanks to generous support, recent initiatives have included a full remodel of the gymnasium to support our thriving sports programs, art residencies in collaboration with esteemed local organizations, a new STEM Lab to bolster our science program, and interactive screens in classrooms to replace aging Promethean Boards.