Westerville Education Foundation awards $26,251 in fall grants; Parent Council reports $1.1 million in community support

Emma Nelson, executive director of the Westerville Education Foundation, told the board the foundation awarded 17 fall grants totaling $26,251 and said the spring grant cycle opened Feb. 9 and will remain open through March 6.

"My name is Emma Nelson. I serve as the executive director of the Westerville Education Foundation and our mission is to support Westerville City Schools by enriching the learning experience and expanding the mind of our students by funding innovative programs," Nelson said. She said the fall cycle drew a record 33 applications and that the grants will impact roughly 5,860 students across 13 buildings.

Nelson described grant recipients spanning STEM, language and culture, literacy, the arts and student wellness. She named outside supporters that helped fund grants, including META, the Ingram White Castle Foundation and the Arts Council of Westerville, and said presenting sponsors include Nationwide Children's and Mount Carmel St. Anne's.

Ryan Halpertz, representing Westerville Parent Council, summarized the council's fiscal-year 2025 support: $56,750 in scholarships, $1,106,231 in monetary donations and about 65,510 volunteer hours. Halpertz said those volunteer hours represent the equivalent of roughly 44 full-time staff members when valued at the district's contracted hourly rate.

Board members and the superintendent thanked the foundation, Parent Council and volunteers for community support and for specific programs such as Teacher of the Month, student-run business labs and the WSEF student leadership work in the district's three high schools.

The foundation's spring grant cycle details and nomination links were presented as available on the organization's website and via a QR code displayed at the meeting. The foundation invited community members and district staff to apply or to support the fund.