Annual Report
Strong Schools.
Strong Businesses.
Strong Communities.
Our Impact
We are proud of the impact the Waukesha Education Foundation, Inc. (WEF) has made in the School District of Waukesha. Those who started our organization in 2002 would be amazed by our growth. We say a special thank you to our donors, our volunteer Board of Directors, the educators and students we serve, and to our grant partner in the School District of Waukesha. Our future is bright! Thank you for supporting our mission.
Dr. Gene Shoemaker Board President Lynnette Kalmadge Executive Director
Our Mission:
The Waukesha Education Foundation, Inc. utilizes community resources to provide grants and scholarships for the educational enrichment of the students in the School District of Waukesha, fostering quality and innovative learning and ensuring a strong foundation for the future of our community.
Our Vision:
To make the School District of Waukesha the center of educational excellence in Wisconsin through active community involvement
2023 Impact at a Glance
>$21,000 Raised by the School District of Waukesha “Go Casual for a Cause” program
$50,000 Grant dollars awarded to deserving teachers and programs
$41,275
Scholarship dollars awarded to graduating high school seniors, along with 4 $100 middle school band awards
26 Grants awarded to support innovative programs in the School District of Waukesha
$479
First grant to the School District of Waukesha’s online academy, eAchieve
$333,000
Total scholarship dollars awarded to SDW students since 2002
$5,000
Largest grant awarded in 2023, to support a “Farm to Classroom” program in all three district high schools
$445,000
Total grant dollars awarded to support School District of Waukesha programs since 2002
Year in Review: Events
This year ’ s WEF events brought us to new heights with record turnouts, major fundraising, and more opportunities to connect with the community and support the schools and students in the School District of Waukesha
17th Annual Golf Outing
It was another year of perfect weather at Ironwood Golf Course in Sussex The 2023 outing sold out in sponsorships and hosted over 170 golfers Amazing! We are most proud of our golfer retention, with so many of our past golfers joining us year after year The event raised over $23,000, including annual sponsorship revenue
Partners in Education Reception
Each June, the WEF hosts our annual Partners in Education Reception The 2023 reception was held in the ballroom at Carroll University, where we honored annual sponsors, special guests, scholarship recipients and their donors. Attendees celebrated by wearing clothing from their alma mater or favorite university, inspiring great personal connections and conversations.
Evening for Education
Our popular annual Evening for Education event was so nice, we tried to have it twice! A blizzard meant we had to reschedule the event 24 hours before it was supposed to occur. There was a blizzard on the new date, but our guests came anyway and we honored 2022 WEF award winners, Generac Power Systems, Waukesha YMCA, and William Baumgart, acknowledged grant winners and thanked our sponsors The event raised over $34,000
The P.I.E. Sale: A Delicious Way to Support WEF
For WEF, pie is more than just a delicious dessert; it’s also the acronym we use for “Partner in Education ” The WEF held another successful year-end sale, celebrating our Partners In Education Special thanks to South High School for once again hosting the pick up and the South Student Athlete Leadership Team for sorting and packing all our orders!
Our new office space gives us a little more room and a lot more storage! Please note our new address: 301 Hyde Park Ave, #208, Waukesha, WI 53188
Gratitude and Stories
Sponsorships Support our Mission
Our annual sponsor program offers marketing opportunities as well as participation and exposure in both WEF and District programs Annual sponsors that supported us in 2023 are listed in this report Our event sponsors help us offset the cost of our events and increase our profits They are an incredibly valuable resource and we appreciate their generosity Our event sponsors are also listed in this year ’ s annual report Thank you!
Record Breaking Year for Grants
The WEF awarded 26 grants, totaling $50,000 and impacting 18 schools, the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium and the district’s Environmental Education program. This was a new record for our organization! In May, we delivered grant notifications and were greeted by grateful recipients Grants awarded included a variety of impactful projects to support the arts, drones, e-sports, family & consumer science classes, literacy and more
Classroom Connect
The “Classroom Connect” program launched in 2023. This program allows a donor to provide a donation of $6,000 or more and directly fund a grant or grants within a specific interest area. This program was designed to provide a funding avenue for businesses who cannot participate in our traditional program, but still want to have a positive and direct impact on our classrooms. Generac Power Systems was our first Classroom Connect donor and they directly supported the “STEM Flight Lab”, a hands-on drone experience for students at the STEM Academy’s elementary campus, as well as a solar viewing telescope and space camp developed by the Horwitz-DeRemer Planetarium.
Casual for a Cause
Staff in the School District of Waukesha are expected to dress professionally during the school day. Thursdays are the exception, when they can pay $5 to wear jeans to work, which goes directly to WEF’s granting funds 100% of the proceeds from this initiative are added to our available grant dollars During the 2023/24 school year, staff raised more than $21,000 for our 2024 grant awards Amazing!
New Scholarships
We welcomed several new scholarships in 2023! Metro MLS created 3 $1,000 scholarships for students pursuing business and computer science. The Voit Family started the $1,000 Voit Family Future Educator Scholarship Fund to support a student going into the education field. The Pittman Family started the $1,000 Pittman Family Leadership Award to recognize students at South High School who participated in Student Council Hydro-Thermal Corporation created a $2,500 scholarship for a female student who plans to study engineering We are most grateful for these donors If you would like to learn more about setting up a scholarship, please contact our office
2023 Grants
Bethesda Latin Beats
On Your Own Coast to Coast Visions Come to Life
Accessibility and Inclusivity in Environmental
Education
Developing Leaders Through Hawthorne’s Girls’ & Boys’ Empowerment Groups
Hillcrest Community Garden
Stepping Into Fitness
Strategic Readers with Movement, Mindfulness, and Mentors
Sun’s Out? Scope’s Out!
Who's Ready for Laser Camp?
Revitalized Guided Reading Library
A KEY to PRECISION
Creativity Crawl
Enhancing Designs in Clay
Proof is in the Bread!
Bridging Welding and Art for Innovative Design
DSLR Cameras for Photography
Recess Revamp
Take A Walk On The Sensory Path
Building Community through a Classroom Pet
Technology for Student Designers and Performances
Edible Designs
Farm To Classroom-Partnering Local Environmental
Education programs with Culinary Education
STEM Flight Lab
Dollars and "Sense"
West Esports Expansion
To learn more about our grants, visit www waukeshaeducationfoundation org
WEF Recognition Awards
Each year, WEF recognizes individuals, groups and businesses who have made a significant contribution to education in the School District of Waukesha There are three categories of recognition, each honoring a different sector of our community that makes a difference These recipients are then celebrated at the annual Evening for Education, held in the early spring the following year You can check out their celebration videos by scanning the QR codes below!
Congratulations to our 2023 winners!
Corporate Partner Award: Educators Credit Union
Community Partner Award: Kai Lermer Memorial Fund
Sally Jo Michalko Lifetime Excellence in Education Award: Joseph “Joe” Como
Granting & Scholarship Funds
Our granting funds come from a variety of generous donors & donor advised funds, including restricted and unrestricted funds, managed by the Waukesha County Community Foundation (WCCF), where WEF has been designated as the beneficiary of these funds. Special thanks to:
Grace & Merlin Birk Fund
Schmidt Family Fund
Sally Jo Michalko Fund
Wiesner Family Fund
WEF Business Fund
Bob Duckett Memorial Fund
Rupple Fine Arts Fund
Ken Hollub Memorial Fund
Kristine K. Diener Technology Fund
Van Beek Library Fund
South HS Alumni & Family Fund
Special thanks as well to individuals and organizations who support School District of Waukesha students through their donor-advised scholarship funds also held at the WCCF. They are listed in our Financial Information within this annual report. Acknowledgments also go out to individuals and organizations who support pass-through scholarships via the WEF Current Scholarship Fund: The Andrews-Mueller Family (Libby & Rob Mueller), Hydro-Thermal Corporation, Kyle & Lynnette Kalmadge, Metro MLS, Jason & Mindy Pittman, Otto's Fine Art Academy, Dr. Gene & Carol Shoemaker, The Wendell Florence Family (Thad Florence) and Waukesha South AVID Program.
2023 Event Sponsors
We are so grateful to the many businesses and community members who supported us as event sponsors at our 2023 events Thank you!
Barb Hartling, Travel Agent
Mike & Melissa Baxter
Mark Borowski
CableCom LLC
CannedWater4kids
Capri Communities
Chris & Felicia Carrillo
Citizens Bank
CC & N
Delta Dental
Jane Delzer & Ken Finkel
Delzer Lithograph Company
Kimberly Dove Real Estate
Edward Jones - Mike Savelkoul
Enterprise Lighting & Control
The Equitable Bank
First Student
Frame Family
Gallamore Homes (Shelley
Gallamore)
GE HealthCare
Hawthorne PTA
Heartland Business Systems
HRB Law
INNIO Waukesha Engine
Kyle & Lynnette Kalmadge
Kraklow Dentistry
Liberty Dance Center
Luminate/Michael Creed
Meijer
Metro MLS
Mid-City Sports
Minuteman Press-Brookfield
Mortenson-Cullen
Nev's Ink
Suzy Osum-Shorewest
Peerless Visions
Dr Kelly Piacsek & Family
Pieper Electric
Premiere Dance
ProHealth Care
Prolec GE Waukesha
Dan Prothero (Realtor)
Robert Colletta Photography
Rogers Behavioral Health
Brian & Debbie Running
Sarahi & Mario Monterrey
Scherrer Construction
Dr. Jim & Amy Sebert
Shoemaker & Gilson Family
Dentistry
Dr. Gene & Carol Shoemaker
Tonya Thomsen, Realtor
UnitedHealthcare
Urethane Systems Plus
Diane & Dennis Voit
Walbec Group
Waukesha South HS
Waukesha STEM Academy
Governance Board
Waukesha YMCA
WEA Benefits
Wisconsin Indoor Golf Center WM
ReMax Platinum - Kelly Savelkoul
Financials - Year Ending December 31, 2023
Fund Type Through December 31, 2023
We are grateful to the donors who have maintained funds to support grants and scholarships, providing for future generations.
WEF Unrestricted Operating Fund Scholarship
Bonnie Schlais Scholarship Fund
Chrys Racinowski Memorial Scholarship Fund
Clyde Shields Scholarship Fund
Col H Mueller Scholarship Fund
Current Scholarship Fund
D R Fuller Scholarship Award Fund
Diane Voit Scholarship Fund
Dr. David Hoeppner Scholarship Fund
Dr Jim Marty Memorial Scholarship Fund
Elizabeth & Peter Dianich Scholarship Fund
Emery E Reuss Scholarship Fund
Frederick C Christensen Memorial Fund
James & Dorothy Frisch Scholarship Fund
Jay Whitney Memorial Scholarship Fund
J E Worthington Technology Scholarship Fund
Jim Tyler’s Player’s Choice Award Fund
Ken Hollub Scholarship Fund
Laurie Jean Weitzer Foundation for our Future Healthcare
Statement of Financial Position
Scholarship Fund
Mabel Amundson Memorial Scholarship Fund
Marla Gloudeman Memorial Scholarship
Noah Mroz Memorial Scholarship Fund
Norm Seeling Scholar Athlete Award Fund
Pat Tyler’s Volleyball Scholarship Fund
Peter & Dora Simon Family Scholarship Fund
Quentin & Dorothy Smirl Family Scholarship Fund
Roland Schrupp Scholarship Fund
Tech Auntie Award Fund
Voit Family Future Educator Scholarship Fund
Waukesha Women’s Club Scholarship Fund
WEF General Scholarship Fund
Granting Funds:
Bob Duckett Memorial Fund
Fine Arts Endowment Fund
Hadfield School Scholastic Fund
Kenneth Hollub Fund
Kristine K. Diener Technology Fund
Merlin & Grace Birk Fund
*Held at the Waukesha County Community Foundation
The Waukesha Education Foundation, Inc is a 501 (c)(3) organization and files a form 990 annually with the IRS The form 990 is available for public inspection at our office
Sally Jo Michalko Fund
Schmidt Family Fund
South HS Alumni Family & Friends Fund
Van Beek Library Fund
Waukesha South Band Fund
Waukesha South Orchestra Fund
WEF General Endowment Fund
WEF Leadership Fund
WEF Waukesha Business Fund
Wiesner Fund
Through the Lens: 2023 Highlights in Photos
From special events to grant delivery day, 2023 was full of picture-perfect moments.
Get Involved and Make a Positive Impact
WEF relies on dedicated individuals and businesses in our community to carry out our mission. We have a variety of opportunities available, and invite you to reach out if you would like to learn more about how you can get involved with our organization!
Join a committee
Have marketing experience? Is event planning your specialty? Let us know your skillset and we can find a place for you!
Become an event sponsor
Businesses and individuals can receive exposure while supporting our special events Several levels are available and vary by event
Donate a raffle or auction item
Event tickets, gift cards, vacations, sports memorabilia, certificates for services and more are all welcome as donations for our events.
Create a scholarship
Support high school seniors and their post-secondary plans
Contact us to explore options for this impactful giving opportunity
Volunteer at an event
Share your time and help us make our events go smoothly! Sign ups are typically available 1 month in advance.
Explore our Annual Sponsorship program
Businesses and individuals are invited to be partners in education and support our mission Sponsorships range from $1,000 - $5,000
Become a Classroom Connect donor
Support our classroom grant program with a minimum $6,000 donation. These innovative grants directly impact students.
2023 Annual Sponsors
Partners In Education
Platinum Sponsor:
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
2023 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
President
Dr. Gene Shoemaker
Vice President
Janaka Subotnik
Treasurer
Nicholas Ansley
Secretary
Manisha Nabke
At-Large Members
Matt Engelien
Victor Frasher
Gina Nordrum
Amanda Roddy
Brian Running
Kelly Savelkoul
Advisory Members (Non-Voting)
School Board Liaison
Mark Borowski
Superintendent
Dr. James Sebert
Thank you! After years of service, we would like to recognize our outgoing WEF Board Members who completed their time of service with us in 2023:
Sarahi Monterrey Angela Schaaf
