Support the Heidi White Memorial Music Endowment Fund

This fund was was established in June of 2013 by representatives of Morton School District 709. The purpose is to provide annual grants supporting the purchase of equipment; defraying the costs of participating in music related activities, competitions, etc.; and other music related activities or purchases. Priority is given to expenditures related to choral department activities, competitions, or purchases.

Heidi White was a dynamic, energetic and inspiring music teacher at Morton public schools from 1999 until 2004, teaching music and chorus at Jefferson Elementary, upper elementary chorus (comprised of students from all Morton elementary schools), and chorus at Morton Junior High. Heidi encouraged a level of excellence in her teaching and as a living example of ‘being one’s best’ to students, parents, and fellow teachers. It was Heidi’s faith in her Lord Jesus Christ that spurred her on to live each day to its fullest, and to seize every opportunity to demonstrate to everyone she met the loving, positivism of her faith and hope in Christ.

Before performances, Heidi often reminded her students of their ‘special-ness’ and potential, telling them ‘you are the cheese’, as on pizza - in other words, the BEST part!

A year before her death, Heidi White shared with fellow music teacher, Katrina Fitzpatrick, Heidi’s dream of establishing a yearly music faculty concert showcasing the musical talents of Morton schools’ faculty. After Heidi’s death in 2004, her idea blossomed into a yearly concert that includes faculty and students, with the proceeds from the concert used to fund summer enrichment opportunities for students to pursue their vocal and instrumental musical interests.

In June of 2013, Katrina Fitzpatrick, Lee Hall (MJHS Principal), Chris Carter (MJHS Assistant Principal), Alan & Wilma McLaughlin (Heidi's parents), and Summer (Heidi's sister) & Matt Knoblach, got together with Scott Witzig, Executive Director of the Morton Community Foundation to establish the Heidi White Memorial Endowment Fund, using some of the proceeds from prior year's Heidi White Memorial concerts. The annual concert has continued to distribute a portion of its proceeds into the endowment fund to help it grow.