April 2022
As part of a pilot project to test a funding model for expanding private philanthropic support for school-based mental health programs throughout Wisconsin, WEA Member Benefits Foundation, Inc., with major funding from its sister organization—WEA Trust—is providing challenge grants to four K–12 school districts as part of the pilot: Appleton ($40,000), Racine ($40,000), Sun Prairie ($30,000), and Watertown ($30,000). The Foundation will help these districts approach potential funders in their local communities to meet their challenge grant, potentially doubling the total for each district.
April 11, 2022, Sun Prairie Area School District: Members of the Sun Prairie School Board and district administrative team met with WEA Member Benefits Foundation Executive Director Steve Goldberg and Janet Thomas, Associate Director of Student Services at the Sun Prairie Area School District, during a presentation of a $30,000 donation for student mental health programming in the district.
April 25, 2022, Racine Unified School District: Executive Director of Student Services Andrea Rittgers announced the District has received a $40,000 challenge grant for school-based mental health initiatives from the WEA Member Benefits Foundation. The District’s plan is to use the money to offset high insurance deductibles for families so all students have access to the District’s mental health clinics. This grant is part of a statewide pilot project to establish a funding path for philanthropic organizations that want to support school-based mental health programs in their communities.