OLD IRVING PARK — Community members, parents and staff at Schurz High School have been working behind the scenes for the past year to form Friends of Schurz, and they're ready to officially debut the organization this week.
The group's public launch is set for 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Schurz Social Room, 3601 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Friends of Schurz' founding board members will outline their mission, upcoming activities and ways for people to get involved.
Seeds for Friends of Schurz were planted last March following the school's failed bid for a new soccer field.
Schurz Principal Dan Kramer met with the Old Irving Park Association to discuss ways of building bridges between the school and the community. Though Schurz is Old Irving Park's neighborhood high school, it's been decades since it was considered the school of choice by area families.
"I've got wonderful kids and we've got to set up ways for you to meet them," Kramer said at the time.
"Friends of" groups serve a variety of functions within Chicago Public Schools. At some schools, these nonprofit organizations are major fundraising juggernauts while at others they play more of a public relations/"cheerleader" role.
Questions about Friends of Schurz can be emailed to friendsofschurz@gmail.com. The group also has a Facebook page.
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