For the 25th year, the Education Foundation of Rice Lake has awarded five grants to public and parochial teachers who are in keeping with its mission “to nurture excellence through private funding of innovative educational programs that aim to inspire kindergarten through high school students and teachers to achieve excellence.”
The foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to help teachers and students excel in programs that are not funded by public tax dollars.
This year’s grants, totaling $9,679, combined with $97,745 from the past 24 years, puts the foundation’s quarter century of giving at $107,424.
Recipients include the following:
• Warrior Robotics: $1,989 to expand the program at Rice Lake High School due to growing student interest.
• Spartan Robotics: $1,999 to expand the program at St. Joseph School.
• Rice Lake Middle School Robotics Club: $1,996 to start a robotics program.
• Culinary Arts at RLHS: $1,983, for the purchase of aprons, chef hats and printer for edible images.
• GPS units for geocaching: $1,710, applied for by RLMS.
The foundation is made up of President Angela Delf, Vice President Mark Smith, secretary Eric Thoreson and board members Shelby Fader, Belinda Cernick, Sarah Turner, Lindsey Rick, Victor Drost, Randy Drost, Dan Fitzgerald and Mandi Frischmann.
Delf’s first meeting at the helm was in April, taking over the president’s role from longtime President Lori Zahrbock.
“I appreciate Lori’s years of service as president and have appreciated serving on the committee with her,” Delf said. “Our board is committed to continuing to support education and excited for the variety of opportunities we are able to provide funding for.”
Other past presidents of the foundation are Mary Ann Pebler, Polly Wolner, Heidi Weber and Kristin Davis.
“In my opinion, the success of the Education Foundation of Rice Lake stems from the vision of the founders, the generosity of financial supporters, innovative educational programs, and the commitment and dedication of faculty, staff, students and board members,” Thoreson said.
The Education Foundation of Rice Lake’s Articles of Incorporation, filed in May 1996, include the following founding board members: Jolene Anderson, Randy Krautkramer, Gordon Shay, Katherine Stauffer, Polly Wolner, Barbara Johnson, Mary Ann Pebler, William Smith and John W. Thomas.
“As I remember, one of the lead individuals to getting the foundation started was Polly Wolner,” Krautkramer, one of the founding members, said. “Due to tight financial restraints in the schools, the foundation would be a way to assist the Rice Lake schools with providing a superior education.”
He added, “A goal of the foundation was to help provide funding for projects that were innovative in the classroom but were not able to be funded because of budget constraints.
“Annually teachers can apply for grants from the foundation to pay for all or part of the cost of programs or projects they feel will benefit their students. The foundation board reviews those grant applications and awards grants based on grant criteria and the amount of funds available that year.
“The grants have included a wide variety of projects including robotics, culinary arts, catharsis, reading programs, 3D printing and much more,” Krautkramer summarized. “The foundation covers both the Rice Lake public schools and St. Joe’s school.”
Criteria for foundation financing is for “unique, innovative or creative” projects not funded through the regular budget process. Encouraged are projects involving a team approach at a grade level, multi-grade or multi-department levels, an interdisciplinary approach, or projects benefiting a great number of students. Desired are projects that lend themselves into integration into the regular school program following the conclusion of grant funding.
Donations and investments
The $100K given out by the Education Foundation of Rice Lake over the past 25 years has come from donations and investments on savings. To keep it sustainable, the foundation finances the grants from interest earned from investment of the principle; the principle is never spent.
“The foundation was established as an endowment fund whereby all donations received are invested, and grants are awarded annually from the earnings from those investments,” Krautkramer said. “This allows the foundation principle to grow and have the donor’s contributions benefit the education system for all future years. This will also provide for an increased amount to be awarded in grants each year.”
He added, “Donations are solicited through an annual direct mail campaign. The foundation did have a fundraising golf event held at Lynndales, starting in 2009. The 2009, 2010 and 2011 events were successful, but 2012 was cancelled last minute due to stormy weather. And that was the last year it was organized.”
It has taken longer to accomplish its end result than originally thought, but for a quarter century is has been paying dividends in the lives of students.
“I think the original group was hoping the endowment would grow faster than it has, so it could provide even more benefit to the education system,” Krautkramer said. “But it does continue to grow every year, and I am sure the grants are having an impact on the innovative projects they are funding.”
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