Cupcakes, raffles augment CPS funding.

CHICAGO (Ill.); ILLINOIS; UNITED States

Chicago Public Schools in Chicago, Illinois, are increasingly relying on parents, alumni and other private sources to supplement what taxpayers provide to educate children. According to acting principal Phyllis Wright of Lincoln Park High School, such fund raising had been dormant for several years at the North Side schools, but has taken off again with the arrival of a new group of active, interested parents. Private philanthropy, everything from corporate partnerships to large alumni gifts, nets Chicago Public Schools perhaps $10 million a year now, not counting foundation grants, says Cynthia Greenleaf, the school system's director of partnerships.