US Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, DC, speaks with students about Black History Month alongside a statue of Martin Luther King, Jr., during a tour of the Rotunda at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 20, 2014. View Full Caption SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

EDGEWATER — For many students across the U.S., the trip to Washington, D.C. is a middle school rite of passage.

At Swift Elementary in Edgewater, seventh- and eighth-grade students have yet to experience a trip to their nation's capital — but a new fundraising campaign could change that.

"We think our students should have the same experience as the kids in the suburbs," Principal Salvatore Cannella said.

From 5-8 p.m. March 4, Swift is holding a fundraiser with Burke's Public House, 5401 N. Broadway, to help fill in funding gaps that will give students their first chance to take an educational trip to Washington, D.C.

For $40 ($20 of which will go to Swift), supporters get unlimited beer, wine, cocktails, and snacks while a silent auction takes place, filled with goodies from Edgewater businesses.

Community members can also donate, without going to the event.

Cannella said despite this year's steep budget cuts from Chicago Public Schools, Swift, at 5900 N. Winthrop Ave., has been saving and preparing to send middle school kids to Washington, D.C. since the beginning of the school year.

He said the Swift community set a goal of $2,000 to help cover expenses for the roughly 20 students, staff and parents that are signed up for the trip.

So far, fundraising efforts have yielded about $1,200, and $650 in funds raised for Swift from the Edgewater 5K will go toward the trip as well.

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