GIPS Foundation Celebrates 23rd Annual Staff Giving Campaign Results

The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation officially wrapped up its 23rd annual Staff Giving Campaign, celebrating an unprecedented year of generosity from district educators, administrators, and support staff. Driven by the theme that "All Students Matter," GIPS employees rallied together to invest directly back into their own classrooms, hallways, and community, raising a staggering $110,316 with an overall district participation rate of 90%.

The GIPS Foundation acts as a "Dream Delivery Service," turning staff contributions into specialized educational tools, innovative classroom experiences, and life-changing student opportunities that fall outside standard district budgets.

The Werner Challenge Sparks Massive Growth

A major catalyst for this year's historic fundraising was the Tom & Lynne Werner $5,000 Challenge Gift. Dr. Tom and Lynne Werner, long-standing champions of Grand Island youth, pledged to match all new or increased staff donations up to $5,000.

The challenge inspired an overwhelming response: 40% of all staff donors qualified for the match. In total, the district saw 599 new or increased individual gifts, representing $43,730.31 in new revenue before the match was even applied.

Award-Winning Teams and Leadership

The campaign relied on the dedication of campaign co-chairs Lacy Biberos (Barr Middle School), Erin Brooks (Walnut Middle School), Dr. Lauren Schumacher (Grand Island Senior High), Lauren Bokowski (Westridge Middle School), Megan Danner (Engleman Elementary), Becky Waind (Stolley Park Elementary), and Rosemary Osborne (GISH).

An all-time high of 32 school teams achieved a perfect 100% giving rate this year. Top honors and building prizes were awarded to the standout teams who went above and beyond:

The Walnut Middle School Team 1 (Led by Erin Brooks): Won First Prize for the highest percentage of gifts qualifying for the Werner Challenge, reaching an astonishing 218% participation rate.

The Kneale South Team (Led by Cat Love): Won Second Prize for the T-Shirt Challenge, giving at a 111% overall rate, with 80% of teammates donating at the $84 or more level.

 

Notable Growth Milestones: The O’Conner Learning Center (Brad Wolfe) achieved a 46% increase in giving; the Child Nutrition Center (Denise Bone, Nicole Enck, Oscar Garcia) surged by 54%; Barr Sevens (Hannah Schmidt) hit 70%; and Barr Food Service (Holly Ortega) reached 73%.

"Every dollar contributed is a vote of confidence in our students," said Kari Hooker-Leep, Executive Director of the GIPS Foundation. "Because of our staff's incredible heart and unwavering dedication, we haven't just met our goals—we’ve soared past them. They do the heavy lifting in our classrooms every day, and choosing to give back financially is next-level dedication. We are deeply grateful to our staff, our campaign leaders, and to Tom and Lynne Werner for helping us invest so deeply in the future of our students."

2026 Co-Chairs

Megan Danner, Engleman Elementary
Becky Waind, Stolley Park Elementary
Lacy Biberos, Barr Middle School
Erin Brooks, Walnut Middle School
Lauren Bokowski, Westridge Middle School
Rosemary Osborne, Grand Island Senior High
Lauren Schumacher, Grand Island Senior High