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A Fund for Educational Excellence
2009-2010
The Advocates for WRPS Education is invested and administered by the Community Foundation of South Wood County.
The inception of the Advocates for WRPS Education (formerly, WRPS Endowment Fund) was in the spring of 2001. We are all aware of ever increasing budget constraints and limited federal, state and local public resources for education. It is precisely this type of fiscal environment that prompted organizers to form the charitable fund.
Mission Statement: The Advocates for WRPS Education is a charitable fund dedicated to enhancing students' educational opportunities.
A volunteer Board of Trustees oversees the Advocates for WRPS Education fund. Members include: Vice President Paul Graff, Jeff Huttenburg, Kelly Heiman, President Jere Johnson, Anne Lee, Jackie Nalbach, Erin Schmidt, Brenda Simon, Kim Kinsey Sparks, Secretary/Treasurer David Stark and Kirk Willard. Kelly Lucas and Mary Wirtz of the Community Foundation and Dr. Robert Crist and Ryan Christianson of the WRPS district serve as ex-officio members.
Many worthwhile projects cannot be funded by tax sources, so this fund supports quality programs and activities that enhance students' educational experiences beyond the basic curriculum. Through February 1st of each academic year, staff members of the Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools are invited and encouraged to write grant proposals for enrichment of the educational curriculum. The grant proposals are reviewed by a committee with recommendations approved by the Board of Trustees. Upon approval, funds are directed to staff members for implementation of their project.
Beginning with the fall of 2003, through 2009, the Advocates for WRPS Education has awarded $13,457 for thirty-seven grants to WRPS staff members, along with $1,000.00 to the Lincoln High School music department for band uniforms. Again, this fall, grants will be awarded with the recipients notified in mid-March of this academic year. It should be noted that only the interest earned from the principal is used for the grants.
In the past, grants have supported a reading improvement program at Mead Elementary School, the purchase of portable microscopes at East Junior High School, an improvisational music program at Lincoln High School, and Sensational Sea Shells at Lincoln High School, among other worthy projects and events. Click Here to view past funded grants.
Fund raising highlights for the Advocates for WRPS Education included entertaining and energetic performances by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Marching Band in the spring of 2005 and spring of 2007. The events were incredibly successful as they provided very special entertainment for area families and were a significant financial boost to the endowed fund. And most recently, alumni, family, friends, and corporations will have the ability to not only donate to the Advocates for WRPS Education fund, online at CF SWC, but can choose to donate and be recognized on the NEW! ADVOCATES FOR WRPS EDUCATION LEGACY WALL, located in the south entrance of LHS, near the field house entrance. Gifts to the Advocates for WRPS Education in the amount of $100 or more will be recognized on the Legacy Wall. Information about your donation and personalized tile can be found here.
Quality education is the cornerstone of community development. The Board of Trustees for the Advocates for WRPS Education want to preserve the quality of education that is offered in the Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools for many generations to come.
This fund has made significant progress during its short existence due to the support of many volunteers, donors, educators, alumni, and businesses. Thank you for your support!
Jere Johnson, President
Advocates for WRPS Education
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