Beth Drucker to Receive District 39 Educational Foundation 2014 Distinguished Citizen Award

Long-time Wilmette resident and environmental advocate Beth Drucker will be honored with the District 39 Educational Foundation’s seventh annual Distinguished Citizen Award at a reception and ceremony on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at the Michigan Shores Club.

Beth Drucker has been a community leader involved with environmental issues in Wilmette for more than 25 years, and has generously shared her knowledge and passion about nature with District 39 staff and students. With funding from District 39 Educational Foundation grants, Drucker helped design and implement teaching gardens at Highcrest Middle School and Wilmette Junior High School; and she has volunteered in the gardens with students each year since they opened 10 years ago. She also helps boost garden programs at all Wilmette schools as a member of the Village-wide School Garden Committee.

Drucker supports these school efforts as president and one of the founders of Go Green Wilmette. The non-profit organization works with the Village of Wilmette, park district, library, schools, residents, local businesses, and neighboring communities to raise environmental awareness and spark community and individual action. Drucker also chairs the organization’s annual environmental fair, Going Green Matters. Last year, she helped establish North Shore Green Women and the Consortium of North Shore Environmental Groups.

Related to her environmental advocacy, Drucker serves on the Wilmette Active Transportation Group (formerly the Wilmette Bicycle Task Force), which promotes bike and walking safety in the community. She created and organizes the annual Bike Hike to Highcrest from Harper and McKenzie Schools, teaching fourth graders how to bike safely to their new school and encouraging biking as an alternative to driving to school. She also has assisted with other bicycle education programs and support in area schools, and volunteers with the North Shore Cycling Advocates and the North Suburban Active Transportation Council.

When asked about being chosen as Distinguished Citizen for 2014, Drucker says “in choosing a hard-working volunteer for this year’s award, I think the Educational Foundation is honoring the efforts of so many of us in the community who help to make Wilmette a great place to live and go to school.” She adds, “it is a bonus to be recognized for work that I love so much – connecting students to nature in our school gardens and improving our community through the environmental efforts of Go Green Wilmette.”

Everyone in the community is invited to attend the Distinguished Citizen reception and award presentation honoring Beth Drucker on Thursday, April 17, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Michigan Shores Club, 911 Michigan Avenue in Wilmette. Advance registration is requested at www.d39foundation.org. Tickets purchased in advance are $65 (adults) and $45 for students (18 and under). If available, tickets will be sold at the door. The event is sponsored by the Wilmette Life, Higher Gear, North Shore Community Bank, and The Village Dog.

All net proceeds from the Distinguished Citizen event benefit the District 39 Educational Foundation’s Gripp Grants promoting educational innovations in Wilmette schools. Twice per year, the Foundation grants funds for educational programs, experiences, and technologies that expand, enrich, and complement the schools' curricula.

For more information on District 39 Educational Foundation donor programs and initiatives, or the Distinguished Citizen award, please contact the District 39 Educational Foundation office at 847-853-3939, d39found@wilmette39.org, or www.d39foundation.org.