Student docents explaining sections of the Anne Frank traveling museum.
Encouraging Empathy and Understanding
The library at Walnut Middle School was transformed, for a few weeks in October, into a museum. Thanks to a grant request by the Assistant Principal at Barr, eighth grade students were able to visit the traveling museum; Anne Frank: A History for Today.
An $800 Wolbach Student Kindness Compassion Grant from the Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) Foundation, provided transportation for Barr Middle School students to attend this event. The Anne Frank museum is a truly unique experience. According to Tyler Madison, the Walnut exhibit lead, eighth-graders from all three middle schools were selected as the 20 student “docents” for the museum. After two full days of immersive training with the Institute for Holocaust Education, these young leaders were ready to guide visitors themselves. “The whole purpose of this exhibit is elevating youth voices. And as you see, it's all kids. It is the kids running it.” In addition to uplifting the youth voice, another goal was to encourage gentle, thoughtful conversations about empathy and understanding.
For Barr students who were already studying The Diary of Anne Frank in Language Arts, visiting the museum brought their classroom learning to life through supportive imagery and videos, deepening their understanding and personal connection to history.
A Legacy of Opportunity and Community
At the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation, we believe every student deserves an equal opportunity to have a school connection. That spirit comes to life through our Compassion Grants, funded by generous endowed gifts. When you establish a Compassion Fund, your gift is thoughtfully invested to provide ongoing support—like Compassion Grant—for GIPS students year after year. It’s a meaningful way to share your values, create lasting opportunities for future generations, and honor a loved one’s legacy.
We are sharing an inspiring story of a Compassion Grant in action, made possible by the Gloria and S.N. “Bud” Wolbach Student Kindness Fund.
Gloria and S.N. "Bud" Wolbach
The Gloria and S.N. "Bud" Wolbach Student Kindness Fund is a legacy of kindness from Grand Island's first "AOK Lady" Gloria Wolbach and her husband S.N. "Bud" Wolbach. Gloria and Bud spent their lives building the town of Grand Island into a 'community.' Their acts of kindness, big and small, are a source of pride for Grand Island. This fund carries that care forward, helping students navigate difficult times by giving them the hope, encouragement, and grant support they need to stay connected and thrive.
Interested in learning more about Compassion Grants? Read more on our website here.
