Heidi White Memorial
Music Endowment Fund

Honoring a teacher’s passion for music and her faith-filled legacy

The Heidi White Memorial Music Endowment Fund provides annual support for music education in Morton schools, with a special focus on choral department activities, competitions, and the purchase of equipment and supplies. Grants from the fund help defray the costs of student participation in music-related events and create enrichment opportunities for students to develop their vocal and instrumental talents.

How the fund began

Heidi White was a dynamic and inspiring music teacher at Morton public schools from 1999 until her passing in 2004. She taught music and chorus at Jefferson Elementary, led upper elementary chorus comprised of students from all Morton elementary schools, and directed chorus at Morton Junior High. Heidi encouraged excellence and constantly reminded her students of their unique potential, often saying, “You are the cheese”—the best part!

A year before her death, Heidi shared her dream with a fellow music teacher of creating a yearly faculty concert showcasing Morton schools’ musical talent. Following her passing, that vision blossomed into an annual event—the Heidi White Memorial Concert—featuring both faculty and students, with proceeds supporting music enrichment opportunities for students.

In June 2013, members of Heidi’s family, colleagues, and community friends partnered with the Morton Community Foundation to establish the Heidi White Memorial Music Endowment Fund, ensuring that the impact of her vision and her love for students would live on. The annual faculty concert continues today, with a portion of its proceeds directed into the endowment to help it grow.

Why it matters

Heidi White’s life was marked by her love for teaching, her passion for music, and her faith in Jesus Christ. She encouraged her students to strive for excellence and to live fully with joy and hope. Through this endowment, her commitment to music education and her message of encouragement will continue to inspire Morton students for generations to come.

Ways to give

You can give online by clicking Donate Now and selecting the Heidi White Memorial Music Endowment Fund. Gifts may also be mailed to Morton Community Foundation, 135 S. First Avenue, Morton, IL 61550 (memo: Heidi White Memorial Music Fund). Donors may also consider tax-advantaged options such as gifts of stock, IRA distributions, or other planned gifts. Each contribution adds to the permanent principal, creating lasting annual support for Morton’s music programs in Heidi’s memory.

To make a tax-deductible donation to this endowment fund, you can:

  • Donate by check: Make it payable to Morton Community Foundation and mail it to 135 S First Ave, Morton, IL 61550. Please write “Heidi White” on the memo line.

  • Make a tax-advantaged gift of stock…Visit our stock gifting page by clicking HERE.

  • Give online by clicking the button below.

Are you a Caterpillar Employee or Retiree?

The Caterpillar Foundation is proud to offer the year-round Matching Gifts Program to support their employees, U.S. retirees and board of directors in their contributions to worthy causes. Eligible Caterpillar participants may request an annual total maximum 1:1 match of $10,000 USD each calendar year to eligible charities to which contributions are tax deductible. The Morton Community Foundation is an eligible charity. So, if you are an eligible Caterpillar participant, you may submit any donations to this fund for an equivalent match, up to your total maximum of $10,000 per year. CLICK HERE to link to the Caterpillar Foundation’s Matching Gift website.