COVID-19 Innovation Fund:
Make a Donation
Wellesley Education Foundation, a long-time champion of the values of innovation, excellence and inclusion within the Wellesley school community, extends its support for the ongoing safe operation of Wellesley Public Schools through establishment of the WEF COVID-19 Innovation Fund.
This fund is intended facilitate safety-related needs for our schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations to this fund should be viewed as an investment in safety that provides a community benefit to all. All donations are fully tax-deductible.
Safer Teachers, Safer Students: Back to School Testing Program
Contributions to the WEF COVID-19 Innovation Fund have been in support of the Back-to-School Testing Program in Wellesley Public Schools. This pilot program was 100% privately funded by WEF, with donors contributing in excess of $360,000. These donations, along with WEF's own contribution of $250,000 from its endowment, have enabled over $600,000 in funding.
It is expected that contributions provided to date will fulfill projected funding requirements for viral testing through April of 2021.
However, given WEF's significant upfront contribution of $250,000 from our endowment, donations are still greatly appreciated. Such donations will allow us to rebuild our endowment assets, and to continue providing educator grants across the district.
Donors are encouraged to make a gift directly to the Innovation Fund by completing the information below, or to give to our Annual Fund or Red Apple Program.
Fantastic News to Share!
January 9, 2021
To Our Wellesley Community:
With the conclusion of the pilot phase of Wellesley's viral testing program, we are brought to reflect on the most fundamental goals of this initiative – goals that extend beyond the bounds of our Wellesley community, and that inspire a greater purpose.
From the onset of this undertaking, it has been our belief that Wellesley bears a civic responsibility to lead the charge in pioneering a testing program, and to further advocate for funding to deliver equivalent programs in some of the hardest hit communities in Massachusetts, so that their children may safely return to school.
Working in collaboration with diverse communities across the state, our ultimate objective was to develop a framework for SARS-CoV-2 testing in all public schools, and to create a call to action for universal access to testing. Our hope was that a successful program in Wellesley could pave the way for better, more cost-effective testing and safe school openings across the nation.
We are thrilled to report that, thanks in large part to the collective efforts of the Safer Teachers, Safer Students: Back-to-School Testing Collaborative, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has now announced the introduction of weekly pooled testing for all K-12 public schools in the state.
This is a truly amazing development, and we are humbled by the realization of what was once only an aspirational vision.
Thank you to all those who contributed to the success of our program. Please know that your support has had an impact far beyond Wellesley – it has helped to make a difference for every public-school family in Massachusetts.
In closing, we are excited to share our Program Summary Report, which provides an overview of the program's background, objectives, and outcomes. It has been our honor to be a partner to WPS in this monumental endeavor.
Sincerely,
Liz Larsen and Jenn Fallon
Co-Presidents
Wellesley Education Foundation