After an evening of libations, and donations, the WISE Foundation raised over $96,000 at the Red and White Dinner Auction on April 12.
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After an evening of libations, and donations, the WISE Foundation raised over $96,000 at the Red and White Dinner Auction on April 12.
While the WISE Foundation is still collecting some payments and tallying cash deposits, it may be their biggest fundraiser yet, according to WISE Foundation member Lucy Swailes.
“It really is just a tremendous way to give back and support our schools, and we couldn’t be more thankful,” said Warren County R-III Superintendent Gregg Klinginsmith.
The WISE Foundation raises money for scholarships for Warren County R-III students and also distributes grants to district teachers for classroom projects. The Red and White Dinner is its main fundraiser.
“We’re a 501(c)3 that supports Warren County R-III students and teachers in academic excellence,” said Teresa Lee, with the WISE Foundation.
The event was a celebration of the Warren County R-III School District with attendees buying raffle tickets and bidding on silent and live auction items throughout the evening. Many of the live auction items garnered over $1,000 for the district.
The most expensive purchase of the night came from Hal Wagner of Wagner Photography who purchased a dinner for six at Annie Gunn’s in Chesterfield for $4,750. The dinner was donated by Marschel Wrecking.
Other large items included the naming rights for the turf field and gymnasium at Warrenton High School, which garnered $4,000 and $3,100 respectively.
Lee was overjoyed with the outpouring of support that evening and was excited for the impact it would have with Warrenton students.
“It went fantastic, we have such a great supporting community here,” said Lee. “The community for our school, they really came out and supported us tonight, and they make everything we do possible.”
Klinginsmith said the foundation helps to support Warrenton students seeking a college education and over the last few years they have been able to offer over 20 scholarships of over $2,000 each to students.
Lee said with the rising cost of a college education, the fundraiser’s importance has only increased.
“The scholarships are so important, it allows our kids to go to college, and that we can support so many students in the district to further their education is just fantastic,” said Lee.
The foundation also supplies education grants for teachers to purchase items for their classrooms like books and science supplies, which Klinginsmith said means the fundraiser impacts every student in the district.
“The teacher grants go back to the classroom and then that impacts kids year after year after year,” said Klinginsmith.
Lee echoed those sentiments saying the impact of the evening’s fundraiser would be felt in classrooms for years to come.
“When we get the applications from the teachers on some of the things they want to do above and beyond in their classes, for their students, the grants from the WISE Foundation allow that to happen,” said Lee.
