What do clapping, saying congratulations and presenting big checks have in common? These were all seen and heard in several School District of Waukesha classrooms last Thursday as the Waukesha Education Foundation Inc. (WEF) surprised educators with the news that they are receiving funds to implement a grant during the 2025/26 school year.
WEF is an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that directly benefits students in the School District of Waukesha (SDW) through a high school scholarship program and a grant program for educators. Each spring, teachers, staff and administrators that work in the SDW may submit grant proposals to request support for projects, programs and initiatives that normally wouldn’t be covered in classroom or school budgets. This year, WEF awarded $58,469 in grants, the largest amount in the organization’s history, which will enable 36 grants to be implemented at 18 different schools and in multiple district wide programs.
On Thursday, members from the WEF Board of Directors and other foundation supporters popped into schools and district buildings to share the exciting news with grant recipients and present them with novelty checks and prizes.
“Our grant delivery day is filled with excitement and celebration as teachers, staff and leaders learn that their proposals were approved for funding,” said Janaka Subotnik, WEF Board President and Chair of the Grants & Scholarships Committee. “The committee was impressed with the innovative ideas that were submitted to extend the curriculum, incorporate new technology and more, all of which enhance the overall learning experience for students.”
Grants awarded this year were for a variety of projects and focuses including literacy materials, social emotional learning and sensory resources, unique art equipment, codeable robots, 3D printing, supplemental math materials, new tools for family and consumer science classes, and hands-on activities.
WEF is grateful to have the support of several community donors and corporate partners who help to fuel the grants. Special recognition is provided to Eaton and Generac Power Systems who made $6,000 gifts through WEF’s Classroom Connect program. Launched in 2023, this unique initiative offers donors the opportunity to make a contribution and designate it to fund grants that align with a particular area of interest. This enables the donor to have a more direct impact on students and enables WEF to fund additional grant requests.
While the WEF team is proud of the record amount that was awarded, the total requests they received totaled over $195,000, indicating the need for more grant dollars.
“It is our goal to continue to grow our capacity, introduce new donors to our mission and amplify our fundraising so that we can provide funding to more grant applicants and benefit more students as a result,” said Lynnette Kalmadge, WEF Executive Director. “We invite individuals and businesses to get involved with our organization because collaboration and partnerships can help us work towards this objective.”