Other Nonprofit News

Herzing launches scholarship foundation
Herzing University recently founded the Herzing Educational Foundation in Milwaukee to provide scholarships to Herzing University students and support community projects and activities by local charities.
“The idea for the Herzing Educational Foundation was inspired by the core belief that career colleges and universities have an important impact on student learning and the communities they serve,” said Amy Chastek, executive director, Herzing Educational Foundation. “As a non-profit organization, we are looking at ways we can complement the important work of Herzing University faculty and staff with specific scholarships and projects that address unmet student and community needs.”
The Foundation has begun fundraising efforts and is accepting donations with the goal of awarding its first scholarships in 2011.
The Herzing Educational Foundation Scholarship, funded through an initial donation from Henry and Suzanne Herzing will award between $500 and $1500 a year to current Herzing students who demonstrate academic success and financial need. The Greg Mieszkowski Persistence Scholarship, named for a Herzing employee who dedicated his life to helping students re-enroll in college will award $500 to a Herzing University online student who returns to complete a degree after taking time off.
“Our goal is to be able to harness the energies of Herzing University students and staff to raise funds locally as well as at the national level,” Chastek said.
According to Chastek, as the fund develops it will enlist the help of Herzing University students to support local charitable causes as well.
“We plan to donate 20 percent of all the non-designated funds we raise through our campuses back to local community causes,” she said.

NEA awards production grant to Skylight
Skylight Opera Theatre has received a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support its production of Adding Machine: A Musical in May 2011.
The production has already received the 2008 Lucille Lortel award for outstanding musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award for outstanding new off-broadway musical and outstanding score.
Adding Machine was composed by 33-year-old Milwaukee native, Josh Schmidt who served as resident sound designer as well as assistant to Skylight’s former Artistic Director, Richard Carsey, in the late 1990’s.  According to Schmidt, he had Skylight in mind when he composed the score.
Plans are underway for several seminars for the students at Homestead High School, in Mequon, Schmidt’s alma mater, and music majors at UW-Milwaukee campus where Schmidt did his undergraduate work. A comprehensive education program with the Milwaukee High School of the Arts as well as several pre- and post- show events with donors and the public are also being scheduled.
Skylight’s production will be the Wisconsin premiere of Adding Machine and the final production of Skylight’s 2010 to 2011 season.
 
 
St. Marcus receives additional funding through grants
St. Marcus Lutheran School in Milwaukee recently received two grants totaling $160,000 for program development and tuition assistance. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans recently awarded St. Marcus $100,000 to support the creation and expansion of  a sustainable funding base for the school. The additional $60,000 was awarded by the Perkins Hunter Foundation Fund at The Chicago Community Trust in support of operating programs and community collaborations the school offers and to aid in the enrollment of students through scholarship programs.
The grants will allow the school to continue to provide and expand extended learning hours before and after school and on the weekends as well as develop new communication initiatives around outreach and awareness through social media and website development.