Connor started school at Eason Elementary and graduated from Waukee High School in 2018.  He tried all the sports along the way.  I was fortunate to see some his baseball, basketball and football games through the years!  Connor made so many lifelong friends through school and his school activities and ended up rooming with several at Iowa!

I was hoping to help in a small way and give the same opportunities to some other kids that may not otherwise be able to participate.  They can learn skills, along with discipline and teamwork.  And hopefully make lifelong friends along the way.

More information about the Hardship Fund provided by the Foundation.

The Hardship Fund is, quite simply, a flexible, responsive resource for students in our district to reduce or remove non-classroom barriers to classroom success. This could be as simple as purchasing soccer equipment for a refugee student excited about joining the soccer team, or it could be as complex as establishing a network of community fridges to ensure students have access after school and before extracurricular activities. We will use grant funds to purchase what is needed, when it is needed.

We work in tandem with the Waukee Community School District, providing for individual student needs that cannot be addressed by the District. In the past, the Hardship Fund has been used to purchase new clothes for kids in an emergency out-of-home placement, provide caps and gowns for low-income seniors who otherwise would not be able to walk at graduation, beds and bedding for students whose families lost everything, activity fees for athletes and artists who cannot participate in their passion without financial support, and hygiene supplies and winter gear for schools to have on hand or for students with no resources at home, to name a few.

WCSF provides resources based on needs identified by teachers, administrators, or other school staff. We review each request and use the Hardship Fund to support needs that cannot be met through District resources or through our partnerships with organizations such as Waukee Area Christian Services, Hunger Free Dallas County, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, various corporate partners, or public services and programs. WCSF staff work with the educator, counselor, or administrator involved in the child’s life to determine the best use of funds, including purchasing materials, providing referrals, or covering expenses through third-party organizations. The Hardship Fund is administered by the WCSF staff with oversight and support from our Board of Directors.

$3776.41 was donated to help some students have some of the same experiences as Connor and his friends.