2026 Community Giving Circle Finalists Announced

We are thrilled to officially announce the three finalists for the fifth annual USD 232 Education Foundation Community Giving Circle, and to invite you to join us for an inspiring evening of innovation, generosity, and community impact.

After reviewing six strong applications from across the district, the Giving Circle committee selected the following projects to present at this year’s event:

• USD 232 Bird & Urban Ecology Program
  Brennan Flanagan – Mill Creek Middle School

• Firing Creativity: Elevating Hands-On Learning in DHS Ceramics
  Celine Sengvilay Oliveira – De Soto High School

• Early Childhood Library
  Deborah Ricker – USD 232 Early Childhood

Each finalist will share their vision in person, and Giving Circle members will vote that evening to award a $10,000 high-impact grant to one of these projects.

This milestone year marks our fifth anniversary, and we’re excited to celebrate it in a beautiful new setting while continuing a tradition rooted in generosity, community, and belief in our educators.

Event details:

• Tuesday, March 31

• StoneBriar Farm

• Doors open at 6:00 PM | Presentations begin at 6:30 PM

Thank you for being part of a community that shows up for our teachers and students. We hope you’ll join us on March 31 to hear these inspiring stories and help decide which idea will take the next step forward.

Learn more about the Community Giving Circle.