Wea Member Benefits Foundation Inc

TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION, PUBLIC EDUCATORS, AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM -- THE FOUNDATION IS LEADING A STATEWIDE EFFORT TO ESTABLISH A CLEAR FUNDING PATH TO HELP PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH FOR K-12 STUDENTS IN WISCONSIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED CHALLENGE GRANTS TO FOUR WISCONSIN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ASSISSTED THESE DISTRICTS IN LEVERAGING THE CHALLENGE GRANTS TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. MATCHING FUNDS RAISED BY THE DISTRICTS EXCEEDED ONE AND A HALF TIMES THE INITIAL CHALLENGE GRANTS. THE MODEL ALSO ATTRACTED PRIVATE FUNDS TO A FIFTH DISTRICT OUTSIDE THE PILOT PROGRAM.

TEACHER OUTREACH -- $100 GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY TO PROVIDE CLASSROOM SUPPORT TO TEN PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS. WINNERS WERE DRAWN RANDOMLY FROM THOSE WHO ENTERED.

STUDENT INTERNET ACCESS PROGRAM -- THE FOUNDATION PILOTED A PROJECT TO TEST AND REFINE A STATEWIDE FUNDING MODEL TO ATTRACT, ALIGN, AND SUSTAIN FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM OTHER PRIVATE FUNDERS TO HELP MANY RURAL AND LOW-INCOME PREK-12 STUDENT HOUSEHOLDS CONNECT TO THE INTERNET THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN WHERE ACCESS AND/OR AFFORDABILITY MAY BE A BARRIER. WITH 75% SUPPORT FROM AN EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT GRANT FROM THE WISCONSIN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, THE FOUNDATION HELPED CONNECT 42 HOUSEHOLDS TO THE INTERNET.

STUDENT ART CONTEST -- THE FOUNDATION CO-SPONSORS THIS ANNUAL CONTEST BY PROVIDING MEANINGFUL AWARDS TO THE WINNING ARTISTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE THEM BY ENHANCING THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND MOTIVATING THEM TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS BY FOLLOWING THEIR PASSION FOR THE ARTS, AND TO BRING POSITIVE ENERGY AND ATTENTION TO PUBLIC SCHOOL ART EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.