The Walworth Children's Foundation has grown its "Community Partnerships" in past years and Jennifer Ott-Wilson recently gave a presentation on the organization to the United Way of Walworth County.
Ott-Wilson, of the Walworth Jt. School District #1 counseling department and director of student services, was joined in attendance by Eileen Coleman, the main office secretary at Walworth and a foundation board member, and Kelly Freeman, a foundation member who is a former school board president and a school board member for 48 years.
United Way asked Ott-Wilson to present on Oct. 26 at its quarterly Nonprofit Partner Agency Meeting. The meeting is attended by a vast array of other non-profits in Walworth County.
"I shared more about the mission of the Walworth Children's Foundation and how we are a 'small but mighty' non-profit that was established in 2011. We are committed to fulfilling the needs of children and families who attend Walworth Jt. School District #1," said Ott-Wilson. "Our purpose is to acquire and distribute resources that support children and families who are experiencing financial need.
"Some examples include providing financial assistance for field trips, summer camps, extracurricular activities, food, clothing, school supplies, supporting social/emotional needs, etcetera. Most recently, the foundation has supported a literacy initiative and a newly-developed program that provides assistance to students who experience food insecurity over the weekends/breaks, called 'Backpack Buddies.'"
Ott-Wilson's presentation included all of that, along with some specific heart-warming stories of how the Children's Foundation has touched the lives of some of the school's students and families.