Bright Futures: Your Newsletter from the WROF, Inc.

Published: Thu, 08/06/15

Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation Email Newsletter Template

August 2015

You are receiving this newsletter from the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation, Inc. because you are one of our past or current recipients, you signed up to receive this on our website, you asked to receive this, or you very generously made a financial contribution to support our organization. Thank you.

A Big Vision Brings Big Results
Dorothy Farrell, WROF, Inc. Board President

It’s an honor and a delight to serve as President of the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation Board of Directors.  Investing in the continued education of rural Wisconsin resonates deeply with my Wisconsin family farm heritage and my career with Sargento Foods- a family-owned cheese company based in Plymouth, Wisconsin. 

I’d like to recognize the decades of service of former WROF, Inc. President, Jim Caldwell, and thank him for his new leadership in continuing to fine tune our Foundation’s financial future.   Additionally, please join me in welcoming Daryll Lund to the Board.  His vision and expertise will be key gifts as we seek ways to support even more awards. 

The Board will next meet August 12.  I welcome any thoughts you have as the Board explores expanding our scholarship offerings and sharing the WROF story more broadly in Wisconsin.  You can reach me at [email protected].  At our meeting we will hear from a WROF scholarship recipient.  Indeed, their passion and energy inspires us and reaffirms that our investment in them ensures a bright future for rural Wisconsin.  Thank you for being part of our WROF family!

WROF, Inc - Proud Sponsor of Morgridge Institute Rural Summer Science Camp for the Second Year

Now in its ninth year, the Rural Summer Science Camp provides hands-on, experiential learning. Campers aren’t just hearing about science– they’re doing science. “They get to wear white coats with the people they think should be wearing white coats,” says Dan Murphy, outreach coordinator at the Morgridge Institute.  


Fostering a love for science and exposing rural high school students to the potential of research careers, the Rural Summer Science Camp, also acts as a professional development opportunity for teachers. They learn about innovative work and how to adapt the activities and talks for their classrooms.

The Rural Summer Camp is a perfect fit with the WROF, Inc. Our sponsorship this summer helped bring students and teachers from high schools in Winter, Mellen, Solon Springs, Three Lakes, Prentice, Tomah, Soldiers Grove and Benton. 

Additionally, the camp was in the national spotlight, and shared comments about the WROF, Inc. sponsorship from Marcy Heim, WROF Executive Director in a front-page news feature in The Wisconsin State Journal.  The story, by WSJ reporter Cassidy McDonald, ran on the front page on Saturday, July 18, and was redistributed to newspapers across the country by The Associated Press and also republished in The La Crosse Tribune, The Racine Journal Times and The Chippewa Herald. One of the hallmarks of the summer camp is its statewide reach, with some participating schools making a four- to five-hour drive for the week-long camp in the Discovery Building (see map above).
 

Daryll Lund is selected for the WROF, Inc. Board

Daryll Lund, Executive Vice President & Chief of Staff, Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) has been selected to the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation (WROF) Inc. Board.   “Daryll Lund is exceptionally qualified to assume this leadership position now as the WROF, Inc. embarks on an expanded role fostering the vitality of rural Wisconsin. With a life-long legacy of leadership and service to rural Wisconsin communities, Daryll appreciates the return on investment in the education of rural Wisconsin,” said Dorothy Farrell, WROF, Inc. Board President and Demand Planning Director at Sargento Foods, Plymouth.


In addition to his WBA leadership role, Daryll serves as the President of the Midwest Bankers Insurance Services (MBIS), a joint insurance agency of the WBA and the Minnesota Bankers Association specializing in designing and securing programs specifically for community banks in the Midwest.  He’s a strong believer in the importance of community banks and their contributions to Wisconsin and our nation’s economy.  He also served as the President/CEO of the Wisconsin Agribusiness Council, a statewide trade association representing agribusiness firms.  Daryll received his Bachelors degree from UW-Madison and a Masters in Agricultural Industries from UW-Platteville.

The Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation—Never heard of us?  Wonder if you are a past recipient? Want to help?
Marcy Heim, WROF, Inc. Executive Director, 608-772-6777, [email protected]

One of my joys serving as the Executive Director of the WROF, Inc. is sharing what the WROF has accomplished throughout the state.  I often hear, “What is the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation? Have you been around long?”  Indeed! The WROF, Inc, is a private charitable foundation that invests in the education of rural Wisconsin people.  Our support empowers them to improve the economic health and quality of life in their rural areas.  We focus on agricultural, life sciences and rural health education for individuals from high school through doctorate levels. 

For over 75 years the WROF has made a tangible, positive impact on Wisconsin’s rural enterprise.  Over $6,000,000 has been awarded to more than 6000 recipients at more than 30 different Wisconsin educational institutions and programs.  YOU could be one of them!  Click here to search for your name.  http://www.wrof.org/scholarships/past-recipients

This year the WROF, Inc provided scholarships for three students, Breah Klemp, Florence Neilitz and Amy Zangl, pictured left to right with Marcy Heim.  The three are students in the UW Madison Physicians Assistant program from rural Wisconsin areas that are underserved in health care. It was my honor to address the large group assembled for the White Coat Ceremony  where the faculty help the students into their White Coats – signifying all they have learned as they begin to see their own patients.  I have never experienced anything quite like this!  
YOU can be part of this!  Your gift expands our reach – creating more bright futures in Rural Wisconsin.  Will you consider joining us?  Here Virginia Snyder (pictured), Physicians Assistant Program Director is shown helping one of our recipients, Florence Neilitz, into her White Coat.  I wish you all could have been there with me.  There is no room for doubt about the impact our dollars have when we meet these incredible recipients.  Thank you for helping to compose a vibrant rural Wisconsin!

Calling All Past Recipients!
WROF, Inc. would love to hear how how receiving a scholarship or award from our organization has helped you to achieve your goals. Showing the impact that the WROF, Inc. awards have had on the lives of our recipients allows us to maximize the support we can provide in the future. Please consider taking a moment of your time to share your story with us on this form!
Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Bright Futures is published periodically on behalf of the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation, Inc. Please send comments to [email protected].