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Gillespie Today
By the People, for the People
Partnership Trivia Winners Donate Prizes Back
Trivia night fundraiser for educational scholarships sees players pay it forward.
Published on Feb. 25, 2026
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The Partnership for Educational Excellence held a successful trivia night fundraiser on February 7, 2026, where all winning teams donated their prize money back to support the organization's mission of providing classroom resources and tuition scholarships for students in Community Unit School District 7. The event raised nearly $3,000, with additional donations coming from the "Out to Recess" remote giving option.
Why it matters
The Partnership for Educational Excellence has been supporting local students and teachers in Gillespie, Illinois for over 34 years, providing over $1 million in donor funds for classroom grants, technology upgrades, and scholarships. This trivia night fundraiser demonstrates the community's deep commitment to education and willingness to "pay it forward" to help the next generation succeed.
The details
The top three winning trivia teams - "Corgi Lovers", "The Hard Beans", and "The Brainy Bunch" - all returned their prize money of $150, $100, and $50 respectively to be used for the Partnership's scholarship and classroom grant programs. The 50-50 raffle winner also donated their winnings. In total, the event raised close to $3,000 to support the Partnership's initiatives, including $2,000 in tuition scholarships and funding for classroom resources in Community Unit School District 7.
- The "For the Love of Education" trivia night was held on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
- The Partnership for Educational Excellence was founded in 1992.
The players
The Partnership for Educational Excellence
A local, IRS-chartered 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational foundation that has supported students and teachers in Gillespie, Illinois for over 34 years.
Community Unit School District 7
The school district serving the Gillespie, Illinois area that has benefited from the Partnership's classroom grants, technology upgrades, and student scholarships.
Donna Prevedell
Vice President of The Partnership for Educational Excellence.
Rosie Emmenderfer
Treasurer of The Partnership for Educational Excellence.
Mary Griffel
Secretary of The Partnership for Educational Excellence.
What they’re saying
“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)
What’s next
The Partnership will continue to accept donations year-round to fund its scholarship and classroom grant programs, with applications for 2026 high school seniors opening online in March.
The takeaway
The Partnership for Educational Excellence's trivia night fundraiser demonstrates the deep community support and commitment to education in Gillespie, Illinois, with players enthusiastically "paying it forward" to help the next generation of students succeed.
