The Westerville Education Foundation (WEF) is thrilled to announce that Education First Credit Union and Mount Carmel St. Ann’s will be the WEF’s Gold Foundation Sponsors for 2018. Each organization is contributing $10,000 to the WEF to support innovative educational programs in the Westerville City School District (WCSD). “The financial support from Education First Credit Union and Mount Carmel St. Ann’s is incredible, and the partnership extends far beyond that,” said Colleen Moidu, Executive Director of the WEF. “All three organizations are committed to supporting Westerville City School District educators in their efforts to enrich young minds. Exciting things will come out of this collaboration.”
Education First Credit Union’s services benefit teachers, district staff and others connected with education. One such benefit is an interest free loan for teachers to purchase supplies for their classrooms. “Teachers on average spend $1,000 each year out of their own pockets on classroom supplies,” said Michael Wettrich, President and CEO of Education First Credit Union. “This program allows teachers to spread out that cost over the course of the year.”
The WEF’s Adopt-a-Classroom program is another resource for teachers to aid with these classroom expenses. Through an online Adopt-a-Classroom module, parents and others in the community can contribute to a particular teacher’s classroom supply fund.
The WEF’s Grants program provides funding to WCSD staff for innovative academic programs through a competitive grant process. WEF awarded more than $20,000 this past December, its highest total ever. This year Mount Carmel St. Ann’s will be supporting a grant fund for programs that engage WCSD students with the growing number of careers in the healthcare industry. “One of our core values at St. Ann’s is to foster relationships for the common good of our community,” said Unhee Kim, President of Mount Carmel St. Ann’s. “Empowering and enabling passionate educators to pursue programs that benefit young people in our community is for the common good of everyone. We look forward to working with the WEF and the District to support creative an innovative ways to engage our students on paths that enrich their futures and the future of our community.”
“Our employees come up with great ideas to enhance education in our schools throughout the year, but the timing of these ideas doesn’t always align with our budgeting cycle,” explained WCSD Superintendent John Kellogg. “District staff who have received support from the WEF say the foundation helps them turn their vision for their classrooms into a reality. This partnership between the WEF, Education First and St. Ann’s will bring even more new ideas and programs into our classrooms.”
Other WEF programs include Fund-a-Project, which is an online crowdsourcing tool that teachers can use to fund various initiatives throughout the year, and the Teacher of the Month recognition program of which Education First Credit Union has been a supporter of for three years. “It’s an honor for Education First to recognize these teachers,” said Wettrich. “We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership and the opportunity to support the outstanding educators we have in Westerville City Schools.”
Both organizations will be Presenting Sponsors at the WEF’s second annual An Artful Affair on May 5 at the Lakes Golf and Country Club. Other sponsors for the event currently include Alliance Data, DCTS - Dayton Cincinnati Technology Solutions, Westerville Amateur Soccer Association (WASA), BDO USA LLP, The Carter Family, Northstar Family Dental, RSFi Office Furniture, Cardinal Bus Sales and Services, Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians, the Collins Family and the Lynch Family. The evening will include Westerville’s largest art auction, food, drinks and live music from local jazz musicians, Change it Up Charlie, and other performers. Tickets and sponsorships are available at www.artfulaffair.info or by contacting Moidu at executivedirector@westervilleeducationfoundation.com.