Blood donors to receive free pizza coupon in September
Nonprofit blood donation center Vitalant is giving a coupon for a free Jet’s pizza to anyone who gives a pint of blood between Sept. 9 and 23.
The “Pies for Pints” promotion is available at all Vitalant Donation Centers in Illinois, including the one at 2764 Aurora Ave. in Naperville. The coupon is good for one four-corner pizza with one topping.
Jet’s Pizza has several suburban locations, including two in Naperville at 720 E. Ogden Ave. and 3344 Illinois Route 59 and one in Aurora at 2849 E. New York St.
Vitalant officials are hoping the deal the deal will bring in donors to prevent a blood shortage, noting that the supply of the most common type O blood reached an 18-month low this summer, a social media post said.
Anyone who makes a donation between Friday and Wednesday, Aug. 30-Sept. 4, will receive a different donor gift — an 80’s throwback “Super Donor” T-shirt and a $10 gift card.
To make a donation appointment, go to www.vitalant.org/donate/locations.
The Naperville blood donation center is closed on Sundays and Mondays. It is open from noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays, and 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Annual mum sale at College of DuPage set for Sept. 11-12
College of DuPage’s horticulture program will hold its annual fall mum sale from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at the college’s greenhouse, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.
A variety of colors of mums will be available as well as houseplants and ornamental kale, college officials said. The greenhouse plants are cared for by the college’s staff and students, who can earn associate degrees in horticulture, landscape contracting and management, and sustainable urban agriculture in addition to 11 specialized certificates.
For more information, go to www.cod.edu/horticulture or contact greenhouse coordinator Amy Hull at hullamy@cod.edu.
Naperville school districts to receive evidence-based state funding
Indian Prairie School District 204 will receive $635,647 and Naperville School District 203 will receive $14,350 in additional state funding through the state’s evidence-based formula, according to state Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville.
The funding is awarded through the 2017 program, which overhauled the way the state distributes funds for K-12 education, a news release from Ellman’s office said.
Total enrollment, poverty rate, number of special education students and English language learners, and other factors are taken into consideration under the formula, which determines how much is awarded to each district. More than $530 million in new funding was added to the state’s 2024-25 budget based on the evidence-based funding model, the release said.
Schools in Ellman’s 21st District will receive more than $915,000 in additional funding. Other school districts in the district are located in Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Downers Grove and Lisle.
