Five grants awarded to teachers for varying uses
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
Carrying on its tradition, the Elkhorn Fund awarded five grants to recipients in the school district at Monday night’s Elkhorn Area School District Board of Education meeting.
The Elkhorn Fund was established in 2007 as a permanent endowment fund for the good of the community, meaning all contributions are protected in perpetuity and only a certain percentage of each year’s earnings are dispensed in grants to community organizations.
According to Gerry Petersen of the Elkhorn Fund Advisory Board, with this year’s grants, the fund has given back more than $57,000 to the community.
This year alone, the fund awarded 10 grants, totaling $12, 975, to numerous community organizations in attempt to keep bettering the community of Elkhorn.
Petersen said the fund exists due to contributions from individuals and businesses in the community. He said the organization’s sponsors include People’s Bank and U.S. Bank.
The Elkhorn Fund awarded a $1,329 grant to German teachers Danielle Pann-Schultz for a dual smart board for her class, $2,000 to School Counselor Amanda Wallace for a College and Career Café at the high school, $1,045 to Christine Russell for alternative seating at West Side Elementary, $1,602 to Jennifer Taylor at the Alternative High School for graphing calculator labs for the students and a grant to Kyle Gorden, another German teacher at the high school.
As for fundraising, Petersen said the Elkhorn Fund will once again hold its signature fundraiser again this year on New Year’s Eve at Evergreen Country Club. The New Year’s Eve Gala includes dinner, entertainment and a New Year’s Eve toast for $50 a person.
“Since most of the attendees are as old as I am or older, we toast when New Year’s hits Rio de Janeiro,” Petersen joked.
Tickets are a available from board members – which include Petersen, Jeff Rosendahl and Elkhorn Area School District Administrator Jason Tadlock – as well as at the Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce.
Capping off the night, Elkhorn Fund Advisory Board member Jeff Rosendahl shared words from a former educator of his and noted that in seeking donations, it’s not always about the size of the donation.
“It’s much easier to get $10 from 200 people than it is to get $2,000 from one person,” he said.
To Donate
The Elkhorn Fund accepts donations year-round. All donations are tax deductible and can be made online at www.cfsw.org/community-funds/the-elkhorn-fund or by mailing a check to the following:
The Elkhorn Fund
c/o Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin
26 S. Jackson St.
Janesville, WI 53548
