Shoah (Holocaust) Education Grant Application Form

For School District of La Crosse employees and anyone with a Google account — Google Doc
NOTE: You will begin by making a copy of the document into your own Google folder.

Other applicants, including organizations outside the School District of La Crosse — Use this Word Document
NOTE: You will begin by downloading a copy of the document to your computer.

In 2007, Maureen and Robert Freedland established this endowed fund in memory of their families and all others who perished in the Holocaust.

The fund has been established for the benefit of La Crosse Public School District students to advance their understanding of the “Shoah,” the systematic genocide against the Jewish people and other “undesirable” groups targeted for destruction by the Nazi regime in World War II.

Priority is given to educational activities concentrating on the Shoah (Holocaust) but related topics may be considered as long as a connection to the Holocaust is maintained.

The Freedlands established their perpetual fund at the La Crosse Community Foundation to support studies in the School District of La Crosse. In 2015, they established a second fund to make Holocaust education available throughout the region, including for private schools. For background on the two funds, download this flyer from the La Crosse Community Foundation.

Requests for the LPEF Shoah Studies grants are accepted throughout the year, but are limited based on available funding. You may want to contact the LPEF office prior to applying to determine if funding is still available. For more information about applying for a Freedland Fund Shoah Grant:

• District staff should click here.
• Applicants from outside the staff should click here.

Here are some of the most recent Shoah Studies grants:

• $2,870 to fund the purchase of new materials for use in Holocaust studies curriculum for 7th grade social studies, plus high school US and World history courses. The curriculum is being developed by a team of teachers including: Bobbi Gillitzer, Eric Martin, Jeanne Halderson, Scott Bagniefski, Brad Masche, Ben Hamburger and Christina Fenton.
• $2,070 to Jeanne Halderson and 7th-grade teachers at Longfellow Middle School to attend the Viterbo University Holocaust Educator Training and to purchase related materials.
• $1,160 to Scott Bagniefski and teachers at Lincoln Middle School to attend the Viterbo Holocaust Educator Training.
• $1,135 to Jill Gorell and the 8th-grade unit at Logan Middle School for purchase of books and support for a presentation by Tim Scott, an attorney and frequent speaker on understanding the Holocaust and how it relates to current events.
• $2,084 to Scott Bagniefski and a team at Lincoln Middle School for purchase of books, a community presentation by Tim Scott and an opportunity for some teachers to attend the Viterbo Holocaust Educator Training.

About Jean Feran

Holocaust survivor Jean Feran died in July 2016. Click here to read her inspiring story.

About Fred Feran

Fred Feran died in February 2010. See his obituary here. To see an inspiring 5-minute video about Fred Feran, Olympic Torch Bearer, click on the image at right. Two days before heading to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin to run the 1500 for Czechoslovakia, Fred Feran (bearded man in center of photo) decided to join the multinational boycott of the Olympics. Instead, during World War II, Fred left home to survive. In 2002, he had the opportunity to run for the Olympics – carrying the Olympic torch through the French Quarter as it made its way to Salt Lake City for the Winter Olympics.  Video produced by Scott M. Freebairn, Video West Productions, Salt Lake City, for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.