WAF awards over $140,000 to local groups

Well over 100 people attended a recent celebration during which more than $143,000 in grants awarded to local organizations by the Waseca Area Foundation (WAF) during its spring round of funding. Representatives from local groups or events gathered at the Starfire Event Center in Waseca on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

 

Though the organization started as a “$6,000 pipe dream” in the 80s when it awarded its first grant of $600, it has now been able to donate more than $13.5 million to area causes.

Hartley Elementary School was awarded $3,000 total from the Sankovitz Family Fund. Waseca Intermediate School was awarded $3,000 for clay glazes from the John Priebe Education Fund, the Noah and Samuel Priebe Memorial Fund and the Barb Penny Youth Fund. The WIS also received $1,200 from Waseca Public School Bluejays Fund for a 3D printer. Waseca Jr/Sr High School was awarded $800 for a cardiac monitor for emergencies from the Scott and Holly Martin Fund, and $5,200 to update equipment from the Waseca Bluejay Public Schools Fund, Noah and Samuel Priebe Fund and the John Priebe Education Fund. The Waseca Schools Band Program was awarded $4,263 from the Herb Streitz Band Fund. Waseca Alternative Learning Center was awarded $1,000 for basic needs and student activity fees from the John Priebe Education Fund. Waseca Public School was awarded $5,000 for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs from the Rosenau Legacy of Angels Fund. Transitions Program Southwest Metro Schools were awarded $2,045 for a sink and $1,158 for a printer from Rosenau Legacy of Angels Fund and the Tracy Jevning Memorial Fund. TEAM Academy was awarded $1,720 for a basketball system and $2,000 for field trips from the John Priebe Education Fund and the Barb Penny Youth Fund. Waseca Community Education was awarded $2,000 from the Cally Jo Children’s Fund. Sacred Heart Elementary was awarded $5,000 for laptops from the Homer and Betty McIntire Fund and the John Priebe Education Fund. Trinity Lutheran Preschool was awarded $3,500 from the Barbara and Jack Dahl Fund. 

 

The Waseca Public Library was awarded $2,000 for its summer reading program from the Scott and Holly Martin fund. Farmamerica was awarded $644 from the Cally Jo Children’s Fund. Waseca 4-H was awarded $1,500 for Centennial Celebration Support and $5,000 toward Power of Produce (POP) Club vouchers from the Barb Penny Youth Fund and the Scott and Holly Martin Fund. Waseca County Farm Bureau Association was awarded $1,500 for fifth-grader safety day and $1,500 for Taste of the Farm from the Schoenfeld Family Fund and Cally Jo Children’s Fund and the WAF fund. Big Brothers Big Sisters was awarded $7,500 from the Barb Penny Youth Fund, the Cally Jo Children’s and the WAF fund. Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center was awarded $2,000 for the In a Pinch program, $10,000 for the food shelf and $5,000 for the back pack program from the Scott and Holly Martin Fund, WAF and the Barb Penny Youth fund. Feeding Our Community Partners backpack program was awarded $2,000 from WAF. Lutheran Social Services was awarded $5,000 for Meals for Seniors from the WAF. Caregiver Services was awarded $400 from WAF. Santa’s Workshop was awarded $500 from the Barb Penny Youth Fund. The Waseca Arts Council was awarded $2,150 from the Tracy Jevning Memorial Fund. The Waseca County Historical Society was awarded $3,000 for an air purifier from the Greg and Donnette Wheelock Fund. The City of Waseca was awarded $2,400 for flowers from the Tracy Jevning Memorial fund. The Waseca Police department was awarded $4,000 for a trailer from the Rosenau Legacy of Angels Fund. The South-Central Drug Investigation Unit was awarded $9,500 for a night vision system from the Rosenau Law Enforcement Fund and the Rosenau Legacy of Angels fund. Discover Waseca Tourism was awarded $1,500 from the John Priebe Community Runs/Events fund. The Waseca County Fair was awarded $5,000 from the John Priebe Community Runs and the WAF. Waseca Lakes Association was awarded $3,000 for Lakefest, $500 for the Lakefest Freedom Run/Walk and $1,000 for the Take a Kid Fishing Event from the John Priebe Community Runs/Events Fund  and the WAF. The Sleigh and Cutter organization was awarded $2,000 from the John Priebe Community Runs/Events fund. The Don Eustice Committee was awarded $5,000 from the WAF.

 

Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (JWP) High School was awarded $220 for food safety certification and $5,000 for a learning lab from the John Priebe Education fund and the Rosenau Legacy of Angels fund. JWP was awarded $7,000 for auditorium lighting from the Rosenau Legacy of Angels fund. The City of Janesville was awarded $500 for Songs in the Park from WAF. Hay Daze was awarded $1,000 for food and prizes from the John Priebe Community Runs/Events fund. The City of Waldorf was awarded $5,000 for a new playground from the Rosenau Legacy of Angels fund.

 

WAF Funds that support Spring 2026 grants include: Roy and Jeanette Tollefson, Bud Schmidt Trucking, W.H. and Estelle Rethwill, John and Jane King, James Corchran, Dr. Robert and Helen Collins, Dr. O.J. and Betty Swenson, Wes and Carol Rethwill, Curt and Nita Sjoberg, Gedosch-Fell, Harold and Gert Sturner, Rutledge Family Fund, Neil and Sharon Fruchte Fund and the Waseca Area Foundation Endowment.

 

Amy Potter, executive director for WAF, complimented area organizations for the work they do in support of important causes, saying, “We cannot thank all partners and donors enough.”

 

The fall deadline for grant applications is September 30, 2026. Anyone who would like to donate can visit the WAF website.