Bank foundation donates large sum to Janesville schools foundation
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Mary A. Willmer-Sheedy
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To contribute to the Excellence in Education Foundation of Janesville, or for more details, email swasson@Janesville.k12.wi.us.
JANESVILLE — A foundation established over a year ago to support the Janesville School District is making its first announcement of a major donation.
The Excellence in Education Foundation of Janesville announced Monday that M&I Foundation has donated $25,000.
Mary Willmer-Sheedy, community bank president for M&I Bank in Janesville, said in a prepared statement that M&I wants top-performing schools with quality programs.
“The Janesville Excellence in Education Foundation will serve a critical role in funding gaps that exist in needs for our schools and our students,” she said. “We’re excited to be one of the first investors in this important initiative and encourage other businesses to join us in supporting the foundation.”
Willmer-Sheedy noted school quality is key when businesses consider relocating to Janesville: “Schools are critical to economic development, and education is critical to developing a future workforce. We believe in our schools and want to see them succeed and thrive. We realize that school budgets are tight and community members must step up to support worthwhile programs.”
The Excellence In Education Foundation has tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 status and operates independently from the school district or school board, said Camilla Owen, chairwoman of the foundation’s board of directors.
The district board and administration set the wheels in motion for the foundation to be created last year, but now the foundation collects donations and will make its own decisions about where the money is spent, Owen said.
The foundation is developing a grant-application process so any district employee can request money for educational purposes, Owen said.
Donors also can designate their money for a specific purpose.
“We’re looking to enhance and enrich learning for students—as positive as can be—and then to grant as much as we can,” Owen said.
The foundation plans to fill gaps where district funding falls short, supplying such things as band instruments or microscopes, Owen said. However, it is not looking to fund salaries or save positions, something the Save Janesville Schools effort is doing.
The two organizations have similar but not identical goals. Save Janesville Schools was set up this spring to help the district preserve jobs and programs threatened by the recent budget crisis. SJS leaders have stated they are raising money to help the district through the next two school years only.
The foundation is intended to be around for the long term, similar to nonprofit foundations that support colleges and universities, Owen said.
The foundation is holding back on fundraising efforts this summer in order not to detract from the Save Janesville Schools effort, Owen said.
The foundation hopes to begin receiving grant applications this fall.
