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LPEF enjoys broad support from local businesses, individuals and School District of La Crosse employees

The La Crosse community is proud of its public schools, and one way it demonstrates that pride is through consistent and strong support for the La Crosse Public Education Foundation. In a typical year:

• About 40 percent of LPEF’s annual operating funding comes from donations made by individuals and families — including current and retired employees of the School District of La Crosse. District employees may support LPEF through payroll deductions and other one-time gifts. More than one-third of professional staff members are annual contributors to LPEF.
• About 30 percent of the annual operating funding comes from local businesses, primarily through sponsorship of fundraising events (such as the Bowtie Classic or the annual Grants Award Luncheon). A growing number of businesses are choosing to make major annual corporate gifts through our Foundation for Learning sponsorship program.
• About 30 percent of the annual operating funding comes from endowment funds or other funds established for the benefit of LPEF.

Additional grants and special pass-through donations vary from year to year, depending on projects developed in collaboration between LPEF and the School District of La Crosse. Recent examples have included: more than $230,000 raised to fund implementation of the AVID program at Central and Logan high schools; more than $100,000 raised to support the District’s efforts to make social justice and equity an everyday focus in classrooms with the goal of closing achievement gaps and providing all students with the opportunity to excel; pass-through of a major donation to provide capital improvements at Central and Logan high schools; and more than $150,000 in support for an innovative reading tutor program at Hamilton and Northside elementary schools.

LPEF was incorporated in 1988 and received recognition from the Internal Revenue Service on Feb. 21, 1989 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The organization was founded “specifically to raise funds and make grants and engage in projects and programs for the benefit of the public schools and the public school children of the La Crosse School District.” The Foundation:

• Provides support for projects and programs which are consistent with District philosophy, but where insufficient funding is available within the District budget.
• Promotes public understanding of and non-political support for public education.

The original LPEF endowment was established at the La Crosse Community Foundation in 1991 to help fund the work we do. Among many individuals and businesses who donated to the initial endowment were these major donors:

• The Gelatt Family, including Northern Engraving Corp., the Gelatt Foundation, Roberta and Daniel Gelatt, and Philip and Elizabeth Gelatt
• Russell and Gail Cleary
• Harry Dahl
• Rachel Gundersen
• Richard Lommen/Ronald McDonald House Charities
• First Federal (now Associated Bank)
• Northern States Power (now Xcel Energy)
• Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo)
• La Crosse Tribune
• Trane Co.

LPEF is a separate entity from the School District of La Crosse and is governed by its own Board of Directors. LPEF and the District work closely to identify proper uses (and limits) for money raised and distributed by LPEF. The Foundation is careful to work with the District to honor all statements about the use of the contributions. LPEF reserves the right to refuse a gift if it is determined to be in conflict with the mission of LPEF, or in conflict with agreements between LPEF and the District.

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