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ABOUT US

OUR MISSION

The Wilson Education Foundation (WEF) positively impacts students’ lives by supporting the Wilson School District in three areas: Student Experience, Teaching Excellence, and Community Engagement.

ANNUAL REPORT

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WEF HIGHLIGHTS

Thanks to the generosity of our community, the non-tax dollars raised by WEF helped to support Wilson students, teachers, and community members in a variety of ways during the 2023/24 school year!

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PAST PROJECTS

2022-23

• Administered $26,400+ in scholarships for Wilson’s graduating seniors.
• Partnered with Wilson School District and provided $20,000 in funding for educational programs and camps.
• Supported our nationally recognized I-STEM program through EITC by raising $40,000
• $6,300 in Venture Grants given to support creative and innovative programs that would not normally be funded through the school budget. These grants enable unique programs, teaching strategies, and learning experiences to become a reality in the classroom.
• Helped support the following events & programs:
  • Teacher Venture Grants
  • Summer Camp Program
  • Organized and hosted special events including:
    • Wilson Community Night at the Fightin Phils
    • Back-to-School Bash
    • Wilson Iron Chef Competition & Benefit Auction

2021-22

• Administered $32,000+ in scholarships for Wilson’s graduating seniors.
• Partnered with Wilson School District and provided $32,000 in funding for educational programs and camps.
• Supported our nationally recognized I-STEM program through EITC by raising $30,000
• $7,500 in Venture Grants given to support creative and innovative programs that would not normally be funded through the school budget. These grants enable unique programs, teaching strategies, and learning experiences to become a reality in the classroom.
• Helped support the following events & programs:
  • Teacher Venture Grants
  • Summer Camp Program
  • Organized and hosted special events including:
    • Wilson Community Night at the Fightin Phils
    • Back-to-School Bash
    • Wilson Iron Chef Competition & Benefit Auction

2019-2020

• Administered more than $26,000 in scholarships for Wilson’s graduating seniors.
• Partnered with Wilson School District and the Sinking Spring Playground Program to provide $17,000 in funding for educational programs and camps.
• Supported our nationally recognized I-STEM program through Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program by raising over $52,000. EITC program offers substantial tax credits to eligible businesses that make financial contributions for approved organizations.
• Through the Annual Venture Grant Program, an additional $9,800 was given to support creative and innovative programs that would not normally be funded through the school budget. These grants enable unique programs, teaching strategies, and learning experiences to become a reality in the classroom.
• Contributed $10,000 towards the initial purchase of Google Expeditions Kits. Students throughout the district (K-12) are using the kits to explore concepts using Virtual and Augmented Reality.
• Helped support the following events & programs:
  • Teacher Venture Grants
  • Summer Camp Program
• Organized and hosted special events including:
  • Wilson Community Night at the Fightin Phils
  • Back-to-School Bash
  • Wilson Iron Chef Competition & Benefit Auction
  • Hosted Kindness Table at Whitfield Raise Craze Fundraising event

2018-19

• Raised $14,000+ for the Wilson West Observation Deck-Pond Project.
• Administered more than $23,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors.
• Partnered with Wilson School District to fund and facilitate the Bulldog Summer Blast Reading Program.
• Continued to support our nationally recognized I-STEM program through EITC funds raised.
• Approved a $10,000 grant to purchase a Google Expedition Virtual Reality Kit that included 30 student devices, 3 chargers, 1 teacher device, 1 router, and case. District Technology Department offered to match the grant by purchasing an additional kit
• Through the Venture Grant Program, an additional $7,000+ was given to support creative and innovative programs that would not normally be funded through the school budget. These grants enable unique programs, teaching strategies, and learning experiences to become a reality in the classroom.
• Helped support the following events & programs:
  • Teacher Venture Grants
  • Summer Camp Program
• Organized and hosted special events including:
  • Wilson Community Night at the Fightin Phils
  • Back-to-School Bash
  • Back-to-School Breakfast
  • Wilson Iron Chef Competition & Benefit Auction
  • End of the Year Teacher Luncheon

2016-17

• Received $59,750 EITC funding to help support the Wilson High School I-STEM Academy.
• Provided over $8,600 to the Venture Grant Program.
• Awarded over $15,500 in scholarships to members of the Wilson High School Class of 2017.
• Introduced the Bulldog Summer Blast program to keep students engaged in learning throughout the summer and help reduce the summer slide.
• A new innovative space was created at the Wilson H.S. Lower House to expand instructional possibilities and facilitate program growth. WEF assisted with community outreach to raise $15,000 to support the project.
• Helped support the following events & programs:
  • Teacher Venture Grants
  • Summer Camp Program
• Organized and hosted special events including:
  • Wilson Community Night at the Fightin Phils
  • Back-to-School Bash
  • Wilson Iron Chef Competition & Benefit Auction
  • Wilson School Spirit at the Reading Royals

2015-16

• Received $54,500 EITC funding to help support the Wilson High School I-STEM Academy.
• Provided over $7,000 to the Venture Grant Program.
• Over $25,000 in scholarships were awarded to members of the Wilson High School Class of 2016.
• Introduced the WEF Student Scholars Program to support academic excellence for Wilson students K-12 by rewarding outstanding applicants who exhibit some level of financial need, alongside impeccable scholastic standards.
• Spearheaded a campaign to raise dollars to support the renovations at the high school to create a new I-STEM Lab.
• Helped support the following events & programs:
  • Teacher Venture Grants
  • Summer Camp Program
• Organized and hosted special events including:
  • Wilson Community Night at the Fightin Phils
  • Back-to-School Bash
  • Wilson Iron Chef Competition & Benefit Auction
  • Wilson School Spirit at the Reading Royals

2014-15

• Raised $75,000 from the EITC program, along with $127,000+ contributed through our various WEF sponsored events and donations.
• $200,000+ were distributed to the Wilson School District including $35,000 to Fast ForWord, $25,000 to the HS STEM Academy and $40,000 to support the continued implementation of the 1:1 Technology Initiative.
• Awarded $6,100 in Teacher Venture Grants.
• $21,000 in scholarships were distributed to Wilson High School students through WEF.
• Launched a new academic summer camp program which hosted 11 elementary level camps serving 132 students.
• Helped support the following events & programs:
  • Teacher Venture Grants
  • Summer Camp Program
  • Wilson Alumni & Homecoming Events
  • Wilson Pride Paver Tile fundraiser
  • “Networking at Night” Event with the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry
  • George Mack Stadium Dedication
• Organized and hosted special events including:
  • Wilson Community Night at the Fightin Phils
  • Back-to-School Bash
  • Wilson Iron Chef Competition & Benefit Auction

2013-14

• Assisted the Wilson School District in raising $463,000 for the implementation of enhancements to John Gurski Stadium and George Mack Field (completed August 2013), and upgrades to the Roy G. Snyder Natatorium (completed in June 2014).
• Received and distributed $282,800 of contributions from area businesses via the EITC program to support Fast ForWord, which serves over 100 Wilson students each year.
• Raised and disbursed nearly $85,000 for Teacher Venture Grants and student scholarships.
• Helped support the following events & programs:
  • Teacher Venture Grants
  • Wilson High School/Whitfield Elementary Theater Residency Program
  • Wilson High School 3rd Annual Art Show and Sale
  • The 2014 Cap and Gown Party
  • 21st Century Parent Symposium, held on August 12, 2014
• Organized and hosted special events including:
  • Wilson Community Night at the Fightin Phils
  • Back-to-School Bash
  • Harlem Wizards Game
  • Wilson Iron Chef Competition & Benefit Auction

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READ OUR COMMUNITY REPORTS HERE

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WEF BOARD MEMBERS

• President: Marisa Hunsicker, White Star Travel
• VP: Aimee Hafer, Habitat for Humanity
• Treasurer: Matt Frasso, Reading Truck
• Secretary: Amy Wolf, Wilson High School Parent
• Marissa Banks, Colortech
• Jen Crocona, Wilson Parent
• Matthew Derr, Whitfield Teacher
• Lora Fiore, Herbein & Co.
• Danielle Hettinger, Wilson Parent
• Tracie Koch, Wilson Parent
• Caryn Moreland, Shiloh Hills Teacher
• Tillman Sims, G.L. Public Services Financial Group Inc.
• Chrissy Twiford, Berks Career & Technology Center
• Christy Weeber, East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc.

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

• Ed Case, Wilson School Board Representative
• Molly Maack, WEF Executive Director | maamol@share.wilsonsd.org
• John Miravich, Fox Rothschild
• Chris Trickett, Wilson School District Superintendent of Schools
• Karen Troutman, Wilson Director of Public Relations
• Daniel Weber, Wilson High School Principal
• Darcie Willingmyre, WEF Administrative Coordinator | wildar@share.wilsonsd.org

 

The Wilson Education Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides funding above and beyond the tax base alone so Wilson School District students (K-12) can receive a differentiated education and achieve academic excellence. As WEF is a 501(c)(3), your contribution is tax-deductible.

2601 Grandview Blvd., West Lawn, PA 19609 | 610.670.0180, ext. 5999