From the Super
By Dave Rokusek
April 28, 2008
I serve as the secretary of the Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools Foundation. This article is my annual plug for the foundation. Last Thursday we held our annual meeting to select senior scholarship recipients. This year the Foundation will award thirty-seven scholarships which will be announced on graduation day. A total of $61,375 will be given to graduates pursuing a variety of careers. The total represents the interest earned on the base scholarship amounts established by the foundation.
The scholarships were made available through years of donations by individuals, estates, wills, and community organizations. The foundation’s total value has reached $1,317,595, an excellent total for a school district of this size and a foundation that is 18 years old. It is very realistic that the foundation will continue to increase due to pledges currently in wills and made by individuals planning the distribution of their estates.
Some of the Foundation’s largest donations came from the Arlan and Raymond Lohmeyer Estates and the Otto and Antionette Smith Estates. The foundation also has a number of other individual donations ranging from $3,000-$75,000.
Putting this into numbers, a scholarship established with a $50,000 base amount this year provided $2,565 in financial aid for a senior. You can start a permanent scholarship in someone’s name for a minimum of $3000. The foundation also takes smaller memorial gifts and direct donations. Gifts of less than $3000 will be placed in a regular fund from which the Foundation will use both principal and interest for a one time scholarship amount.
Thanks again to all who have given. Do consider the school foundation as a tax free donation during your estate and will planning. As you can see you would be assisting students over the years in their efforts to continue their education. Better yet, consider contributing now. Thus you could begin with that amount now, select your criteria for awarding the scholarship, and add to the amount over the years.
Current officers of the Board of Directors are Al Skrabal- Chairman, Russell Schuerman-Vice Chairman, Mike Hroch- Secretary/Treasure. Helen Zach, Al Steinacher, Jerry Petracek, and Sheryl Kastanek are the other members of the board. Any one of these members would be glad to assist you should you have questions. You can also call the school at 821-2266 and we will get you on the right track.
Our thought this week hints to how some men get smarter. “A good scare is worth more to a man than good advice”. Take care and stay in touch.
