La Crosse Public Education Foundation

05/27/2026

So fun to see the product of this grant come to life! 📚📖

This project was sponsored last year by Fowler & Hammer, Inc. in honor of School District of La Crosse 2025 retirees.

05/21/2026

We have some amazing champions for public education in this community!

The Tom and Jean Heyt Thompson Fund was created in 2019 to celebrate the everyday dedication displayed by teachers and staff members. Their generosity, along with support from Marine Credit Union, made it possible for this year's Golden Apple recipients to receive a $750 discretionary grant to benefit their classrooms or schools!

We are so grateful for Tom and Jean's generosity to celebrate educators and staff. Read more about origins of the Heyt Thompson Fund here: https://lacrosseeducationfoundation.org/recognition-for-la-crosse-teachers-staff-funded-by-new-tom-and-jean-heyt-thompson-endowment/

05/20/2026

We're thrilled to see kids learning through the outdoors and how a single grant can impact students for many years! 🚣‍♀️

05/19/2026

This spring, the La Crosse Public Education Foundation awarded 13 Gold Star Grants totaling more than $40,000 to support new opportunities for students across our schools.

We joined LPEF Executive Director Nell Saunders-Scott as she delivered grants to Summit Environmental School and North Woods International School, where students and staff are already dreaming big about what comes next.

At Summit, students will gain more inclusive access to outdoor learning spaces and help create an eagle nesting site with a live camera students across the district can enjoy and learn from.

At North Woods, grants will support hands-on learning, literacy, music, and inclusive play through Music for Littles, Book Walk improvements, and a new inclusive playground spinner for students of all abilities.

These grants help bring learning to life through creativity, collaboration, exploration, and care. They open doors for students to discover new interests, build confidence, and connect with their school community in meaningful ways.

Thank you to LPEF and every community member helping make these opportunities possible for kids.

05/18/2026

We're celebrating 26 School District of La Crosse staff members who retired or are retiring this year. Together they have 602 years of service in La Crosse public schools. Join us in celebrating their accomplishments and consider making a gift in honor of a retiree.
https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_bba9e1c0-5f1b-11ea-8134-0ab2f2f28c00&WidgetId=7727104

Read more and see photos here. https://lacrosseeducationfoundation.org/celebrating-2026-school-district-of-la-crosse-retirees-602-years-of-service/?fbclid=IwY2xjawR4N31leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFvOWZPWGR4MnNHd1pnQU10c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjcxEdunVpTJCOJ0iFB6c8sm9x_KYbzfDBdWVWlULyOJzGL-rrgINF_WOpy6_aem_OV1khbznNT6ohFCSDIsriw

With support from our Salute to Educators Sponsor Fowler & Hammer, Inc., LPEF helps to underwrite the cost of the District Retirement Dinner, and also partners with the La Crosse Tribune to publicly recognize retiring employees in a full-page ad published in mid-May.

05/13/2026

It's grant delivery day! Thank you to our generous community that cares so much about supporting public education and the students and staff of the School District of La Crosse. Today, LPEF announced 13 grant awards totaling $40,584! Read about the Spring Gold Star Grants here: https://lacrosseeducationfoundation.org/announcing-40584-in-gold-star-grants-that-will-enhance-music-education-inclusive-access-outdoor-learning-and-more/

05/12/2026

Yes indeed! Congrats to the Golden Apple recipients and thank you to all staff for their care and dedication!

Thanks to Marine Credit Union and News 8 Now / News 8000 for supporting this event as sponsors!

05/07/2026

It's always great to see previous Gold Star grants continuing to impact students!

Lights. Camera. La Crosse. 🎬

Tonight, SOTA II students take over the big screen at the Rivoli Theatre as they premiere three original films created through an incredible partnership with the La Crosse Film Academy.

From the first story idea to the final edit, students led the process every step of the way. Students writing scripts, filming scenes, editing footage, promoting their work, and bringing their ideas to life alongside industry professionals and dedicated staff who believed in them from day one.

Creative. Hands-on. Real. Connected to the community.

There’s something powerful about seeing students realize, “We made this.” These moments spark curiosity, build pride, and remind kids that their ideas, stories, and talents belong in the world.

Tonight’s premiere is also a celebration of partnership. Schools, families, local organizations, and community members all coming together to create opportunities our students will never forget.

A huge thank you to the La Crosse Film Academy, the La Crosse Public Education Foundation, the Rivoli Theatre and Pizzeria, our SOTA II families and staff, and everyone who continues to invest in our kids and their stories.

Because great things happen here every day.

05/05/2026

It's Thank A Teacher Day! We love celebrating the amazing teachers in the School District of La Crosse by delivering pastries, fruit and coffee to all staff in the district! It's all made possible because Carol Taebel decided to establish the Thank A Teacher Fund at the La Crosse Area Community Foundation. After her career as a teacher at Spence Elementary, Carol knows first-hand how dedicated teachers are and that a little "thank you" goes along way. We're so grateful that Carol's Thank A Teacher Fund makes it possible for LPEF to show appreciation for teachers this way every year!

Thank A Teacher Day is in the middle of and LPEF is glad to be joined by many other groups like PTO's and local businesses who are thanking educators and staff this week.

Thank you, teachers and staff, today and everyday!

04/28/2026

It's always inspring to see how students benefit from the ways their teachers work hard to keep them deeply engaged in learning! This project was made possible with support from the Maureen and Robert Freedland-LPEF Fund for Studies of the Shoah and Global Awareness Fund, both of La Crosse Area Community Foundation.