Since 1993, the Henry E. Reid Memorial Scholarship Fund has enabled all children to participate fully in CAST regardless of specific needs.

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The Reid Fund was originally named after Henry Reid, who served for 17 years with Oak Park School District 97 as a social worker for Hatch, Holmes, and Julian schools. In that time, Henry Reid touched many student's lives. One of the earliest supporters of the CAST program, Henry believed that CAST could positively affect children's lives regardless of the differences in their abilities.

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Upon Henry's death in 1993, his wife, Sherlynn, and his 3 daughters—Mary, Dorothy, and Lorie—honored his wish and established the fund. Since then, the Reid Fund has given thousands of dollars in scholarships to students who otherwise could not afford a quality performing arts experience. Reid Scholarships are available to help defray the cost of CASTJr. and CASTSummer.

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Sherlynn Reid, an amazing woman in her own right, passed away in March 2021. Sherlynn was the head of Community Relations in Oak Park for over twenty years. She also served on the CAST Council for over twenty years, providing vast knowledge and support throughout her many years with us. She served in an advisory capacity in many instances, helping CAST and our students understand and celebrate cultural differences. She was also a strong advocate in reaching out to the community for financial and emotional support during the challenging referendum years. Sherlynn firmly believed that CAST was an integral part of District 97 and Oak Park and worked tirelessly towards that end.

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After Sherlynn’s death, it seemed only appropriate to change the name of the scholarship fund to reflect the dedication and support CAST has received from both Henry and Sherlynn and will now be called the Henry & Sherlynn Reid Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Reid family has been a wonderful support to the CAST program for almost thirty years and we hope will continue for many more.