Washington Park's Burke Elementary Scores $50,000 Big Ten Grant to Renovate School Space

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Washington Park · April 30, 2026

Big news for one of Washington Park's own: Edmund Burke Elementary School is getting a major upgrade, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Big Ten Conference. The investment was announced as part of the conference's community outreach tied to the 2026 TIAA Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament held in Chicago — and Burke Elementary was singled out as a recipient right here in the neighborhood.

The grant, awarded in partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation, Brilliance and Excellence, and My Brother's Keeper Chicago, will fund the renovation of a shared space at the school. And the connection didn't stop at the check: Burke Elementary students also got to take center stage at the United Center during the tournament's opening round games, competing in scrimmages on the arena floor at halftime — a once-in-a-lifetime experience for South Side kids. As Big Ten Senior VP for Community & Impact Omar Brown put it, the conference aims to "leave a meaningful mark on the communities that welcome us."

For Washington Park families, this grant is yet another sign that the neighborhood's schools and young people are drawing real attention and real investment. Burke Elementary is located at 5356 S. University Ave. — stop by and cheer them on. Stay connected with the Washington Park Advisory Council, which meets every third Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., to keep up with the latest wins for the community.

Sources:
1. https://bigten.org/mbb/article/59592/