PORTAGE PARK — Not enough money to send five fourth-grade inventors to a national competition?
Not gonna happen.
All five girls from Portage Park Elementary School are headed to Washington, D.C., after an online fundraiser raised more than $9,000 to get the young inventors to the contest.
Natalie Correa, Charlotte Hastings, Victoria Quiroga, Emily Curiel and Anahi Mendoza won every prize in the fourth-grade competition at the April 2 Chicago Student Invention Competition designed to encourage students to use their imaginations to solve common problems.
Knowing that Portage Park Elementary School, 5330 W. Berteau Ave., couldn't afford to pay $9,000 to send all five girls to the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Exposition in Washington, D.C., May 19-21, teachers set up an online fundraiser to help them get there.
It took eight days for 165 people to contribute $9,050, according to the results.
Going to the competition will "empower [the students] as learners, instill confidence, and teach them lifelong critical problem-solving skills that will help them to succeed in America's future workforce," teacher Pamela Nicandro-Osorio wrote to encourage donations.
All five of the girls are on the neighborhood school's honor roll, teachers said. They designed, built and demonstrated their inventions.
Natalie's invention of a hands-free umbrella won first place in the fourth-grade competition, officials said. She told contest organizers she came up with the idea after walking her dog after school and getting soaked because she couldn't hold the leash, her school bags and an umbrella.
Charlotte invented a boot dryer after her little brothers drove her mother crazy by walking in their muddy boots all over the house.
Victoria, who suffers from breathing problems, invented a way to automatically prop up a pillow and help her breathe easy.
Emily and Anahi worked together to invent the Miss Buttery Stick, which earned them honorable mention. The invention makes it easier for restaurant workers — like Emily's parents — to put butter on pancakes or waffles.
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