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The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation (a supporting organization of ECCF) is excited to announce two new scholarships available as of March 2018.
The Caravan Scholarship was established by two donors in celebration of the music programs at Memorial High School and throughout the Eau Claire Area School District. They pay tribute to the exceptional experience that their children, and countless others, have had with the music programs in Eau Claire.
The $500 scholarship is available to graduating seniors from Memorial High School who participated in band all four years of their studies and who will continue to participate in music during their post-secondary studies. Memorial High School band teacher Eric Dasher is grateful for this new opportunity for the students. “I’m very excited that students will be rewarded for continuing playing music in college,” Mr. Dasher shared. “My goal for all my students is to just keep playing after they graduate. This allows them to do just that.”
Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation board chair Dr. Blenda Yun appreciates this family’s desire to have a direct impact on our schools. “It is always encouraging to see that our families have benefitted directly from their education in the Eau Claire Area School District,” Dr. Yun expressed, “and giving back is a special way to ensure that these opportunities that your family enjoyed will live on in perpetuity!”
The Caravan Scholarship will make its first award in May.
The Joanne Marie Sommer Scholarship was established by a local family of North High School graduates in memory of their mother and wife, Joanne Marie.
The $500 scholarship is available to graduating seniors from North High School who have given back to their community in some form of community service.
Ashley Kohls, Library Media Specialist at Meadowview Elementary School and daughter of Joanne Marie Sommer, is excited to celebrate her mother in this way. “Our parents met at North High School, and we were all Huskies too! NHS has a special place in all of our hearts. We want to make sure that future generations of students who have strong work ethic and believe in serving their community have an opportunity to obtain a scholarship to further their education.”
North High School guidance counselor Justine Hildebrandt was thrilled to hear of the new opportunity for her students. “We have been very lucky at North High School to have students who truly care about and work to make our community great,” Ms. Hildebrandt said. “It is so exciting to see students who strive to give back in our community being acknowledged for their dedication, following in Joanne Sommer's role-modeling!”
The Joanne Marie Sommer Scholarship will make its first award in May. Ms. Kohls shared, “It is our hope that these students will benefit from the scholarship and our mom will be remembered!”
As a non-profit 501(c)(3), the ECPSF is dedicated to promoting value-added learning opportunities for students in the Eau Claire Area School District. These two scholarships are the newest of several scholarship funds at the ECPSF.
To learn more about these scholarships, or to make a gift, please contact ECPSF Executive Director Sarah French at sfrench1@ecasd.us or (715) 852-3015. You can also visit the ECPSF website at www.ecpsfound.org.
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The Women's Giving Circle is now accepting grant applications! The mission of the WGC is to support nonprofit organizations that run programs benefiting Eau Claire area women and/or children.
The WGC will be awarding grants of up to $6000 in 2018. If your nonprofit is planning to create such a program or significantly improve an existing one, you're eligible to apply.
You can learn more about this opportunity at the WGC Grant Information page of this site.
All grant applications must be submitted by midnight on July 1, 2018.
Please call the Eau Claire Community Foundation at (715) 552-3801 or email Rebecca at grants@eccommunityfoundation.org if you would like more information about the Women's Giving Circle and its grant application process.
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Second row, from left: Brad Sommer, Stacy Wisse, Keith Haugen in honor of his wife Katie, Kari Holloway, Holly Larson, Dave Reidt, Lars Long, Amy Daw, Beth Mule. Front row, from left: Heather Hernandez, Linda Brown, Deb Schretenthaler, Michelle Hrudka, Celena Smith-Reuter, Angie Nelson, Cathy Steidl, Melissa Greer, Amy CarlsonSather, Sarah Loback, Barb Redman.
The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation hosted its third annual Golden Apple Awards banquet on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at Wild Ridge & Mill Run Golf Course. The ceremony was emceed and hosted by WEAU’s Bob Gallaher. In January and February, WEAU partnered with the Foundation to bring cameras to surprise honorees in their buildings with the news of their selection, and Bob and his team compiled the footage to create a touching video for the banquet.
The evening celebrated one Golden Apple Award honoree from each of the twenty schools in the Eau Claire Area School District, selected by nomination of their peers. Each honoree receives a $500 grant to use in their schools/classrooms, and each school also receives a $500 grant to their Fund For Today, sponsored by generous businesses in the Chippewa Valley. The event is an annual partnership with businesses to celebrate and show appreciation for exceptional faculty and staff in the district.
Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School honors Amy Daw, School Secretary
Sponsored by Charter Bank
DeLong Middle School honors Lars Long, teacher on special assignment
Sponsored by C&M Homebuilders and Real Estate
Flynn Elementary School honors Deb Schretenthaler, Kindergarten Teacher
Sponsored by Marshfield Clinic & Security Health Plan
Lakeshore Elementary School honors Linda Brown, Reading and Literacy Coach
Sponsored by Sylvan Learning
Locust Lane Elementary School honors Brad Sommer, 4th Grade Teacher
Sponsored by Xcel Energy
Longfellow Elementary School honors Holly Larson, Partnership Coordinator
Sponsored by Kristo Orthodontic Specialists
Manz Elementary School honors Heather Hernandez, Kindergarten Teacher
Sponsored by Indianhead Foodservice Distributor
Meadowview Elementary School honors Sarah Loback, 1st Grade Teacher
Sponsored by UWEC College of Education and Human Sciences
Memorial High School honors Celena Smith-Reuter, French Teacher
Sponsored by Royal Credit Union
McKinley Charter School honors Beth Mulé, Competency Component Teacher
Sponsored by Student Transit
North High School honors Dave Reidt, School Counselor
Sponsored by McDonald’s Courtesy Corporation
Northstar Middle School honors Amy CarlsonSather, Social Studies Teacher
Sponsored by Wipfli
Northwoods Elementary School honors Michelle Hrudka, 2nd Grade Teacher
Sponsored by McDonough Manufacturing Co.
Prairie Ridge Early Learning Center honors Kari Holloway, EC4T Head Start Teacher
Sponsored by Trust Point, Inc.
Putnam Heights Elementary School honors Melissa Greer, 4th Grade Teacher
Sponsored by Marsh & McLennan Agency
Robbins Elementary School honors Barb Redman, 3rd Grade Teacher
Sponsored by Ken Vance Motors
Roosevelt Elementary School honors Stacy Wisse, Kindergarten Teacher
Sponsored by Mayo Clinic Health System
Sam Davey Elementary School honors Katie Haugen, Special Education Teacher
Sponsored by Marine Credit Union
Sherman Elementary School honors Angie Nelson, 1st Grade Teacher
Sponsored by Market & Johnson
South Middle School honors Cathy Steidl, Math Teacher
Sponsored by Northwestern Bank
Many thanks to Bob Gallaher and WEAU for their dedication, time, coverage and service to this great cause; to Sacred Heart Hospital for their gift of design and print services; to Capital Husting for their gift of wine for the banquet dinner; and to Eau Claire Area School District for their loyal support of the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation, and their support of the district faculty and staff! Save the date for the 2019 Golden Apple Awards: Thursday, April 11, 2019.
For more information about the Golden Apple Awards or to make a gift to the Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation, contact Executive Director, Sarah French at sfrench1@ecasd.us or (715) 852-3015. You can also visit their website at www.ecpsfound.org.
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Eau Claire has many wonderful nonprofits working to improve our community's quality of life. Here are four that demonstrate the variety and scope of their achievements.
Each spotlighted organization represents one of our four giving categories (Create Culture, Form Futures, Give Green, and Offer Opportunities), and each received an Eau Claire Community Foundation grant in the 2017 grant cycle.
The currently spotlighted organizations are:
Boy Scouts of America, Chippewa Valley Council
Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association
Thank you to these organizations as well as all the other nonprofits that make Eau Claire such a great place to live!
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5% may not sound like a lot, but this increase in the Eau Claire Community Foundation’s grant distribution—up from 4% in honor of the foundation’s 20th anniversary—has resulted in a record-breaking $181,931 in grant support for local nonprofits. These grants will have an incredible impact on the community, including helping homeless families find the stable housing they desperately need.
“Sheltering homeless families with children is important,” said Kelly Christianson, Executive Director of Family Promise of the Chippewa Valley, “but the way to end homelessness is to get people into homes. This $10,000 grant will help families who don’t qualify for the limited government funded programs to secure permanent housing. Without it, they’ll remain in shelters longer.”
The Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) will be distributing these grants at its Annual Meeting on June 7, 2018. This year’s 44 grants include an unprecedented five grants of $10,000 or more. Together, they bring ECCF’s grand total to over $11.2 million dollars in grants distributed since its founding in 1997.
This positive impact on local nonprofits was made possible through the generosity of ECCF’s donors, who contribute to existing funds or even to create their own. ECCF then invests those dollars and uses the earnings to make grants that support the donors’ philanthropic goals now and for years to come.
ECCF is excited to announce its new Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Portfolio option for its fund holders. These SRI funds will allow donors to do twice as much good: They’ll support grants to nonprofits while investing in companies that meet stringent criteria for their social and environmental responsibility. Morgan Stanley will serve as the Investment Manager for these funds.
“This Portfolio is designed to meet the needs of fund holders who desire socially responsive investing options. Morgan Stanley has been a leader in this area for over 30 years, and its team has a rich history of experience and knowledge that is unique in the social investing industry,” said ECCF Executive Director Sue Bornick.
She added, “You don’t have to be wealthy to create your own fund; family funds are simple to establish with as little as $500. Often, donors use their funds as an opportunity to teach their children about philanthropy and get them actively involved in giving. Funds are also frequently established in honor or memory of a loved one. No matter what your reason for creating a fund, your family’s legacy will be forever.”
Thanks to the generosity of new and established fund holders, ECCF celebrated a milestone during its 20th anniversary last year: It opened 17 new funds and surpassed its goal of $20 million in assets. It currently holds 260 active charitable funds.
You don’t need your own fund to make a positive impact, though; you can donate to any of the existing funds. Donations to ECCF’s Community Fund are especially appreciated because they address the Eau Claire area’s most pressing needs by supporting grants to local nonprofits through the annual competitive grant cycle.
To learn more about the Eau Claire Community Foundation, including how to open a charitable fund, you can explore this website or contact Sue Bornick, Executive Director, at 715-552-3801 or info@eccfwi.org.
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The Eau Claire Community Foundation is proud to announce a record-breaking $181,931 in grant awards through its 2018 competitive grant cycle, including an unprecedented five grants of $10,000 or more. Most grant recipients accepted their checks at ECCF’s Annual Meeting on June 7.
This year’s 44 grant awards bring ECCF’s current 2018 disbursements through competitive and Donor-Advised granting to almost $1.7 million, including over $1 million in support of the Confluence Project.
Community support is vital for the continuation of ECCF’s grant awards, which help local nonprofits fulfill their missions. Grants are awarded in four major giving areas: Create Culture (arts and museums); Give Green (environment, physical fitness, and animals); Form Futures (education and training); and Offer Opportunities (food, shelter, accessibility, and other basic needs).
ECCF strongly encourages the public to donate to its Community Fund, which supports a diverse array of local nonprofits. They can also contribute to any of ECCF’s many other funds or even start their own. ECCF’s new Socially Responsible Investment portfolio offers an especially good option for donors who want their money to be invested in companies they can feel good about.
More information about starting a new fund or contributing to an existing one is available on this website, by emailing info@eccfwi.org, or by calling the ECCF office at (715) 552-3801.
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Many current and potential ECCF donors care as deeply about doing good with their investments as they do about doing good through granting. We’re pleased to announce that ECCF has a new Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Portfolio to meet the needs of those donors. This option will be in addition to our current Diversified Portfolios held by Orgel Wealth Management.
The new SRI portfolio will focus on climate change, health and well-being, inclusion, resource management, and safety and security.
This portfolio wasn’t selected lightly. The Investment Committee sent out request for proposals as far away as Chicago and New York. After much research and deliberation, the Board of Trustees approved Morgan Stanley as the investment manager.
Morgan Stanley has been a leader in this area for over 30 years, and its team has a rich history of experience and knowledge in the social investing industry. They provide environmentally and socially focused portfolios with competitive risk – adjusted returns through a spectrum of investing, including thematic investing that focuses on things like climate action, data privacy and gender diversity.
With this new option, our donors will be able to do twice as much good by granting to nonprofits they care about from funds they feel good about.
If you'd like to learn more, you can email info@eccfwi.org or call the ECCF office at (715) 552-3801.
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Want to catch up on the latest ECCF happenings? Please click the link below to read:
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Talha Aslam Memorial Scholarship Fund: This Designated Scholarship Fund was created in memory of Talha Aslam, an exchange student from Norway who enhanced the lives of his host family.
Fuerstenberg Family Fund: This Field of Interest Fund supports educational opportunities in the Eau Claire area.
Cody and Molly Filipczak Family Fund: This Donor-Advised Fund addresses many of the Eau Claire area's most pressing needs, including homelessness and youth programming.
Hayward Library Foundation Fund: This Agency Endowment Fund supports the operations of the Sherman and Ruth Weiss Community Library into perpetuity through the Hayward Library Foundation, Ltd.
You can donate to any or all of these Funds by following the links above to their pages. Want to start your own Fund? You can do that too! Click on "Start Your Own Fund" for more information.
Please email info@eccfwi.org or call (715) 552-3801 if you have questions about these Funds or any others at ECCF. Thanks for your interest!
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Good news--the Babbette's Seeds of Hope Sunflower Maze is opening for the season! Support a great cause while creating beautiful lifelong memories.
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The members of the Women's Giving Circle, a Fund of ECCF, hosted their Fall Educational Event on Monday, Sep. 24, 2018. The topic was "Cyberbullying Education and Prevention: Responding to Adolescent Misuses of Technology and Its Effects on Children."
Eau Claire Area School District Superintendent Dr. Mary Ann Hardebeck spoke about cyberbullying as it affects children in the District as well as the District's efforts to combat it.
Dr. Justin Patchin, a pioneer in the field of cyberbullying research, then spoke about his work and provided an array of strategies for parents to use when addressing the issue with their children.
Thanks to the work of both presenters, local families will now have an expanded toolbox to help them fight the pervasive and destructive problem of cyberbullying.
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The Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) begins accepting grant applications for the 2019 grant cycle on Nov. 1, 2018, and will continue accepting them until the deadline on Jan. 20, 2019. Any tax-exempt nonprofit serving the Eau Claire area is eligible to apply.
More information about this funding opportunity is available on the “Apply for a Grant” page under the “Lasting Impact” tab of the ECCF website (www.eccommunityfoundation.org).
Nonprofits are invited to attend the ECCF’s free grant training sessions on Nov. 13, 2018; Dec. 4, 2018; or Jan. 7, 2019. More information about them is available under the “Events” tab.
Please contact the ECCF Program Specialist at grants@eccfwi.org or by calling (715) 552-3801 if you have questions about the ECCF grant cycle.
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The Women's Giving Circle is pleased to announce that in 2018, it’s awarding $37,250 in grants. Each grant recipient helps to fulfill the Circle’s mission of supporting women and children in the Eau Claire area. The organizations and programs the Circle has voted to fund are:
A complete history of WGC grants is available on the WGC "History of Grants" page.
The Women’s Giving Circle members pool their charitable dollars into a fund at the Eau Claire Community Foundation in order to maximize their philanthropic impact. The Circle began in 2007, when a group of over 100 Founding Members each pledged a total of $1,000 over 4 years. Today, it has over 280 members, and it continues to grow.
This year’s grant awards bring the Circle’s total grant distributions since inception to $265,203. Grantees will officially receive their awards at the Gift of Giving Breakfast, which will take place at the Florian Gardens at 7:30 am on December 5, 2018.
The Women’s Giving Circle members invite the Eau Claire community to attend this celebration of philanthropy. They also welcome new members; anyone can join the Circle at any time.
For more information about the Women’s Giving Circle, please consult the Women's Giving Circle page of this website and the Women's Giving Circle Facebook page.
You can write to office@eccfwi.org, click on Gift of Giving Breakfast under our homepage's Events Tab, or call 715-552-3801 if you'd like to RSVP for the Gift of Giving Breakfast.
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Want to catch up on the latest ECCF happenings? Please click the link below to read:
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The Eau Claire Community Foundation is proud to support philanthropy by connecting donors to the charities they care most about.
To ensure that charitable gift requests and other security movements are processed prior to year-end:
Any requests received after the deadline dates will be processed on a best-efforts basis. If you have any questions about year-end gifts, please contact ECCF at 715-552-3801 or info@eccfwi.org.
Thank you all for your generous support of ECCF! Because of you, our nonprofits can do even more to help our community thrive. We wish you a warm, happy, and joyous holiday season.
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Andrew and Brenda Schlafer Family Fund: This Acorn Fund will eventually grow to support Eau Claire area nonprofits.
Bidwell Engebretson Tusen Takk Volunteer Support Fund: This Agency Endowment supports the volunteer program of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation.
Cody and Molly Filipczak Scholarship Fund: This Scholarship Fund helps graduates of the South Shore School District in Port Wing, WI, finance their post-secondary educations.
Doris J. Bautch STEM Scholarship Fund: This scholarship helps current Independence students further their post-secondary educations in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) field.
Landmark Conservancy Fund for the Mary E. Fitz Memorial Park: This Agency Endowment supports the Mary E. Fitz Memorial Park.
My Dad-Milton and My Mom-Elnora Siker Endowed Scholarship Fund: This Scholarship Fund helps graduates of Janesville Craig and Beloit High School finance their post-secondary educations.
RAPS DOC Scholarship Fund: This Scholarship Fund helps graduates of Independence High School finance their post-secondary educations.
Richard Pierce (Torstein) and Sandy Lampman Trail Support Fund: This Agency Endowment supports ski trail development and maintenance, primarily for trails associated with the American Birkebeiner.
Roberta and Ken Vance Fund: This Unrestricted Fund supports grants to a diverse array of Eau Claire area nonprofits.
You can donate to any or all of these Funds by following the links above to their pages. Want to start your own Fund? You can do that too! Click on "Start Your Own Fund" for more information.
Please email info@eccfwi.org or call (715) 552-3801 if you have questions about these Funds or any others at ECCF. Thanks for your interest!
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The Women's Giving Circle will be accepting grant applications from April 1 to July 1, 2019. Any Eau Claire area nonprofit with a new or enhanced program that benefits Eau Claire area women and/or children is eligible to apply.
The WGC will be awarding grants of up to $6000 in 2019. You can learn more about this opportunity on the Women's Giving Circle Grant Cycle page of this site.
All grant applications must be submitted by midnight on July 1, 2019.
Please call the Eau Claire Community Foundation at (715) 552-3801 or email Rebecca at grants@eccfwi.org if you would like more information about the Women's Giving Circle and its grant application process.
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The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation is pleased to share its beautiful new Annual Report. This report had previously been part of ECCF's Annual Report, but now ECPSF has its own publication.
You can click the link below to learn about ECPSF's great work in supporting Eau Claire area students.
Want to learn more about ECPSF or donate to a fund? Click here to visit their website!
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