2nd Graders Create Naperville ABC Poster

Prints of "Naperville ABCs," a poster by artist Laurie Allen that depicts a well-known landmark or site in Naperville for every letter of the alphabet, will go on sale in early November. The proceeds will benefit the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Fund.

A new poster featuring well-known landmarks and sites around Naperville will soon be for sale as a fund-raiser for the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Fund. "Naperville ABCs" is a watercolor print that depicts places in Naperville, one for each letter of the alphabet. Second-graders in Naperville School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204 helped come up with the ideas to represent each letter.
"We thought it would be a nice match for the second-graders to come up with suggestions for the letters," said Harriet Treacy, a member of the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Fund. "Each class brainstormed different ideas for certain letters."

The ideas were submitted to Laurie Allen, an artist who has done similar ABC drawings for places such as Galena, Door County, Wis., and Dubuque, Iowa. Allen then toured Naperville in April to see the sites for herself.

"We think this is a wonderful representation of all the great things that happen in Naperville," Treacy said.

All proceeds will go toward the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Fund, which awards grants to teachers to promote literacy. The fund honors Jeanine Nicarico, a 10-year-old Naperville girl who was kidnapped and killed in 1983.

Barb Jansz, chairman of the fund, said the proceeds will ensure the fund continues on through the years.

"The community has been very generous in the past and we hope to make this an ongoing fund to continue to honor Jeanine in the future," Jansz said. "We are very excited about this project."

The alphabet print features Centennial Beach, the farmers market, Millennium Carillon and Naper Settlement, among other landmarks. Unmatted prints are 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches and cost $15. Matted prints are 11 inches by 14 inches and cost $20. The prints should be available for purchase in early November.

"This is a great idea for Napervillians, for newcomers to the city and as gift for former residents," Jansz said.

She said Ray Kinney at Minuteman Press and Kevin Colbert of Colbert Custom Framing donated their services for the project. Jansz said 2,000 prints were made to start, and more prints can always be made. Each second-grade classroom in districts 203 and 204 will receive a poster-sized version of the print for their efforts.

"This is a great way for the community to give back and support teachers and literacy in the schools," Treacy said.

FYI

"Naperville ABCs" prints will be available in early November. The cost is $15 for an unmatted print or $20 for a matted print. Prints will be available at Anderson's Bookshop, Naper Settlement, Minuteman Press and Colbert Custom Framing. All proceeds benefit the Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Fund.

[] Contact staff writer Britt Carson at bcarson@scn1.com or (630) 416-5269.