More than $2 million Raised at Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation’s 14th Annual Golf for the Future Event

Foundation Funds Life-Changing Opportunities for Wisconsin Dells High School Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact:
Sara Hood, Morning Walk
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Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (August 21, 2024) - On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation (WDEF) hosted the 14^th annual Golf for the Future event at Trappers Turn Golf Club and Wild Rock Golf Club. At this year’s event, the annual fundraiser raised over $2 million to help fund endowed scholarships for local Wisconsin Dells High School students. These scholarships help provide area students an opportunity to attend accredited secondary education programs after graduation from high school.

The annual fundraiser was started to raise funds for the Wisconsin Dells High School music department. Before long, Golf for the Future raised enough money for the music program and then some, launching the Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation.

The WDEF’s mission is to ensure that all “students wishing to pursue post-secondary education have the financial support to do so.” For 14 years, WDEF has raised over $10.5 million to provide scholarships to Wisconsin Dells high school students pursuing secondary education.

“This past May, the WDEF had the great opportunity to award over $400,000 to Wisconsin Dells High School graduates pursuing secondary education,” said Kelly Bauer, President of the Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation & Vice President of the Bank of Wisconsin Dells. “The Wisconsin Dells community members, families, and businesses have been incredibly supportive and generous over the years. And, with their continued support, we hope to help many more students achieve their dreams.”

For this year’s event, the Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation partnered to create six new endowments. The Foundation now offers 105 total endowments created by families, organizations, and businesses in the Wisconsin Dells community.

The new endowments include:

G3 Nelson Family — awarded to a student who is philanthropic, giving back to their community through volunteering and/or humanitarian efforts.
Let’s Golf About It — awarded to a student pursuing a career that supports mental health.
Life: “Live it” – created by Steve Pine supporting a graduate of Wisconsin Dells High School.
Baker Tilly Continuing Education – awarded to Wisconsin Dells students that are in college and pursuing a degree in accounting.
Alissa & Bob Gander Continuing Education – awarded to Wisconsin Dells students in college.
Bank of Mauston – given to support a student who has financial need.

In addition to funding scholarships, the Golf for the Future event also raised money for the “Fund A Need” initiative, providing free breakfast to Wisconsin Dells students.

“The school district informed us that to best set students up for the school day, there was an unmet need for students to have breakfast,” continued Bauer. “We have been incredibly blessed to be able to provide breakfast for any student who wants it, no matter their financial situation. Last school year, we helped fund over 100,000 breakfasts.”

For more information about the Golf for the Future event, the Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation or to donate, please visit www.wdhsfoundation.org.

About the Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation
Established in 2011, the Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation raises, invests and distributes scholarship funds for the benefit of graduates from Wisconsin Dells High School. The foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization whose goal is to provide all Wisconsin Dells students wishing to pursue post-secondary education the financial support to do so. For more information about the Wisconsin Dells Education Foundation, please visit www.wdhsfoundation.org.

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