Paying It Forward: Why Supporting Our Schools Is About Community, Legacy, and Showing Up
Contributed by SEED Board Member, Angie Price. Above is the current SEED Board (not pictured, Sarah McEneany and Tracy Barrrett)
When my family moved to Shorewood in the fall of 2017, we had little to no sense of community. My oldest child was entering 4th grade, and like anyone stepping into a new town, I was searching for a sense of connection.
Not long after we arrived, another Shorewood mom invited me out for coffee. As we chatted and got to know each other, she casually brought up the idea of volunteering with an organization she was part of: The Shorewood SEED Foundation.
At the time, most of the SEED board members had kids who were in high school or had already graduated, while mine ranged from toddlers to pre-teens. Stepping into that space changed everything for me. Those relationships gave me a grounding root system in Shorewood. They gave me a “longview” on parenting and public education from mentors who had already “been there, done that.”
Fast forward to today: that 4th grader of mine is now a freshman in college, and the SEED Board has continued to expand, with parents of children k-12. So much has changed in the last 10 years, and yet some things have remained constant.
I’m still involved with SEED because I’ve watched firsthand what happens when a community rallies around its schools. I see the tangible impact of every dollar raised in our classrooms, and I am endlessly grateful to the parents who came before me to pave the way. Today, I volunteer to pay that gift forward; working to ensure our schools and community remain vibrant, supportive, and well-resourced for all the students, families, and teachers who follow.
Top row (left to right): My family in the fall of 2017; My school aged children on their first day at Atwater. Bottom row (left to right): Swing with Shorewood Gala, 2019; My oldest son at graduation (2026).
You Don’t Need a Title to Make an Impact
While SEED operates with a dedicated Board of Directors, you do not need to be a board member to volunteer, contribute, or make a difference.
SEED’s work belongs to the entire Shorewood community. Whether you have an hour to give at an event, a skill to share, or simply want to learn more about how we support our district, there is a seat at the table for you.
Here is what a few of the wonderful people I volunteer with have to say about why they got involved, and what volunteering with SEED has brought to their lives:
I joined the SEED board because I love its mission and I felt a strong urge to help spread the word to community members with younger children. Volunteering for SEED has brought me amazing new friendships and an even stronger connection to the Shorewood community.
Hanna Seegers
Why I volunteer for SEED is twofold. It is very rewarding to see how SEED immediately impacts and improves the educational environment in Shorewood. We raise the money and directly donate to the district to support everything as basic as books to curriculum development, technology, lab equipment, and creative learning ideas ie the maker space at SIS, to name a few of the many things we have supported.
I have enjoyed working with so many wonderful people in our community and fostering long lasting friendships. When SEED was being formed I was the “young one”. Many people on the board became mentors and helped me navigate the years as my children aged. I am no longer the “young one” but hope that I am a good resource for the “young ones” on the board. Wonderful friendships and fun memories are continually being formed as a member of the SEED board.
Melissa Nelsen
Pictures of Ian Elfe, growing up in Shorewood
As a Shorewood Alumni, I give my time and effort to the SEED foundation in part because I recognize how many people went above and beyond to give me life-changing educational experiences when I was a Shorewood student. Some of the biggest leaps forward in my academic and extracurricular development wouldn’t have happened if the adults in my life had settled for less. If I settle for less today, then children will have less to be grateful for tomorrow.
I wouldn’t have taken the same pride in my academic achievements without the uplifting words of my 4th grade teacher, and I wouldn’t have developed much confidence speaking in public without the extra hours and sweat and tears from teachers and volunteers in the drama department.
Ian Elfe
I joined this board because I believe in the mission, and I love seeing the results of our hard work play out in the classroom and beyond. The unexpected bonus though, is the people I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know. I’ve met other parents with children in elementary school, and I’ve connected with others whose children have graduated. There is a legacy of knowledge here – I’ve learned so much about our school district and our community, and I’m grateful to be in the room with all of these wonderful volunteers who care so much.
Kelly Stason
Sarah McEneany with her husband, Bob Smith
I joined SEED in 2010 to help address the shortfalls in state funding for public education. We moved to Shorewood to raise our children in a supportive community and to attend Shorewood Public Schools. I am very proud of what SEED and the board members, both past and present, have accomplished over the decades of community building and fundraising. I am also very grateful for the exceptional educational experience our now-adult children received in the Shorewood schools and community.
Sarah McEneany
I have volunteered at Shorewood School District for many years, first as an Atwater PTO member and then on the Swing Gala committee. When the position of treasurer opened up on the SEED board of directors, it was an organic move for me to take on greater responsibility with SEED. Now, even though my kids have graduated from the district, I continue to work with SEED because I believe in our mission to support and enrich the excellence of a Shorewood education.
Shawn Brown
I choose to be involved with the SEED organization because I believe that it’s important to maintain our kids’ quality education in a time of declining state funding. Through volunteering and being on the board, I’ve gotten to meet and network with amazing people who are also passionate about education. In my most recent role as co-chair of our annual Swing with Shorewood gala fundraiser, I’ve also been truly impressed to see how the Shorewood community comes together to support our schools!
Carman Empey
Pull Up a Chair: Join Us for Coffee!
Just as a casual invitation to coffee rooted me in Shorewood nearly a decade ago, we’d love to invite you to connect with us.
Whether you’re curious about what SEED does, looking for ways to get involved, or simply want to meet other parents across the district, drop in to one of our upcoming Coffee Socials:
Friday, September 18 | 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM Location: Fiddleheads Coffee Roasters (Shorewood) A great location for Lake Bluff parents! Come grab a cup, say hello, and meet myself and other SEED board members.
Friday, September 25 | 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM Location: City Market (Shorewood) Another casual opportunity to drop in, ask questions, and meet fellow parents in the community, just across the street from Atwater Elementary.
No pressure, no pitch. Just good conversation about our schools, our kids, and how we can all work together to keep Shorewood thriving. We’d love to see you there!
