The Wayzata Education Fund celebrated its 20th year supporting students and staff in Wayzata Public Schools with their first ever Wild for Wayzata Gala! The all volunteer organization is an independent 501c3 with a mission of raising funds to enrich and support the educational experience for students and staff within Wayzata Public Schools.
The sold-out event was held at the Wayzata Country Club on February 3rd, 2024. There was an excited energy in the air as guests arrived in their cocktail attire on an unusually warm winter evening. Attendees socialized and celebrated our collective ability to support the amazing teachers and staff at Wayzata. The Wayzata community was represented by parents, staff, school board members, businesses, and sponsors, demonstrating the broad-ranging support that education funding elicits.
Through the Wild for Wayzata fundraising event, the Wayzata Education Fund raised over $70,000! We want to thank all community members and sponsors that made the first Wild for Wayzata Gala a wild success! It would not have been possible without the support of the families and businesses in our community!
Where will that money be used? The teachers and staff in Wayzata are world class and are continually looking for opportunities to enrich and improve the educational experience of their students. The school district supports what its budget enables, but there are more requests than funding. The Wayzata Education Fund provides an annual grant program which has expanded its scope this year. The grant program exists to fund projects for Wayzata public schools that fall into one of the following categories: Innovation, Excellence or Evolving Needs. These grants benefit hundreds of Wayzata students every year.
Since its inception in 2003, the Wayzata Education Fund has distributed over 400 grants totaling more than $500,000. Each year teachers and staff submit grant applications in the fall and WEF awards grants the following spring. The next cycle opens October 1, 2024, and more information will become available for teachers in staff by mid-September.
The Wild for Wayzata Gala is the primary fundraiser for the organization, in addition to its Highlight a Hero campaign and other donations throughout the year.
There is always something underway at the Wayzata Education Fund! Are you interested in the plans for next year’s Gala or this year’s grant distribution? Visit our website, join our mailing list, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know as we grow!
