With Chicago Public Schools in the middle of a worrisome budget crisis, schools are facing cuts that could eliminate many programs outside of the normal classroom. Nicholas Senn High School, at 5900 N. Glenwood Ave. in Edgewater, will no doubt be affected by those cuts, expecting to lose between $1.5 to $2.8 million in funding.

Friends of Senn, an organization that serves as the fundraising arm of Nicholas Senn High School, is hard at work trying to raise that extra money. Their purpose is to provide Senn students with the best possible educational opportunities while building community by connecting with neighborhood organizations, businesses, and key stakeholders.

On Saturday, June 18, Friends of Senn will host Brews for Bulldogs, a food and drink fundraiser event to support student opportunities at Senn High School. The event will take place at Ravenswood Event Center at 4011 N. Ravenswood. A long list of area businesses are donating the food and drink, and Gallagher Music is providing the entertainment.

Joe Lev, one of the founders of Friends of Senn NFP who is also the school’s history department chair, is thrilled to have so many area businesses participate. He said, “The businesses in the area have been incredibly generous. We have community that always wants to help out the school.”

This will be the second year for Brews for Bulldogs. Last year, the event, which was held at Fireside Restaurant, raised $7,500 towards its goal.

Every dollar of the money raised will impact the students. Lev said, “This year, Friends of Senn is working to re-vamp the student cafeteria and install televisions so our digital journalism program could create Senn TV and broadcast it.”

Lev continued, “We also plan to continue to award grants to individual teachers. This year, we awarded three grants to teachers. One was for a joint Chemistry/Design project where kids designed windmills and studied climate change/engineering. One went to a teacher whose students designed book covers of the works they studied throughout the year. One went to our film teacher who needed cameras and tripods to provide his film students with the resources they need to produce films for the course.”

The funds that are currently being collected for the upcoming school year are expected to supplement expenses for buses, football jerseys, uniforms, repainting of the hallways/cafeteria, technology and supplies for Senn’s arts program.

With the population of Senn growing consistently for the past six years in basically every measurable area, the looming funding cuts come at a difficult time. These fundraisers are considered crucial to help support the educational needs of our area’s youth.

For tickets to Brews For Bulldogs, go to: http://friendsofsenn.brownpapertickets.com

Businesses donating beer, food and raffle/silent auction items to this year’s Brews For Bulldogs event are:

The Breakfast Club

The Brixton

Brooklyn Brewery

Begyle Brewery

Chicago White Sox

Chicago Bears

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

George’s Ice Cream Parlor

Giordanno’s

Goodman Theatre

Goose Island Brewery

Gordon Food Services

Hamburger Mary’s

JB Albertos

KFC

Koval Distillery

Lakewood Balmoral Association

Lagunitas Brewery

Lavender Park Salon

Light Opera Works

Metropolis Coffee

Pork Shoppe

Ravenswood Event Center

Swedish Bakery

Writers Theatre

Victory Gardens Theatre

Vincent