Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation, Inc.

Congrats to everyone’s favorite arts school MHSA! We can’t wait to check out the new digs.

The new facilities include a dance studio, a STEM lab with space for their Project Lead the Way program, a renovated gymnasium that allows the school to host home basketball games, and an outdoor courtyard for students.

Renovations complete at Milwaukee High School of the Arts MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee high school has a new look, after two years of construction.A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday, Oct. 3 at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, celebrating the compl

Check out our Executive Director, Willie Jude II, testing out the new tennis courts at Ronald Reagan High School last Friday at their ribbon cutting!

The MPS Foundation was a proud partner and champion of this initiative to secure funds to support this critical project. Thanks to all of you, the multimillion-dollar project to add science labs and upgrade the athletic complex is now complete.

We’re incredibly fortunate to have Anthony Smith as a long-standing member of our Board of Directors! His passion for the arts and unwavering commitment to our Milwaukee students continue to inspire us all. Thank you, Anthony, for your dedication and for championing the future of our community!

Check out Anthony in Milwaukee Magazine's Faces of MKE 2024: https://www.milwaukeemag.com/faces-of-milwaukee-2024-marcus-performing-arts-center/

We’re incredibly grateful to have Tina Chang on our board at the MPS Foundation! As one of our founding members, Tina has consistently shown unwavering dedication to Milwaukee’s future. She’s a true leader who always steps up when it matters most. While she usually shies away from the spotlight, we’re thrilled to see her getting the recognition she deserves! Check out this inspiring profile on Tina, a tech trailblazer and champion for our community. 👏

Entrepreneurship provides tech exec Tina Chang with freedom to make community impact Most entrepreneurs are driven to start their own business because they desire a deeper level of freedom and control. For Tina Chang, chairman, CEO and

🌟 Congratulations to our incredible Board Vice President, Jackie Herd-Barber, for being honored as one of Milwaukee Business Journal's "Black Leaders You Should Know"! 🌟

Jackie is a true local legend whose tireless leadership and unwavering commitment to Milwaukee's students have been nothing short of transformative. Her mentorship, devotion, and tenacity have been the backbone of the MPS Foundation’s success. Without her, our impact—and perhaps even our existence—wouldn't be what it is today.

Thank you, Jackie, for all you do. We are endlessly grateful to have you on our team! 🙌

Jacqueline Herd-Barber - Milwaukee Business Journal Jacqueline Herd-Barber

Last week's inaugural golf outing, FORE MKE's FUTURE, was a beautiful day of golf, friends, and support for our students and schools! 💜🏌🏾

A million thanks to our attendees, volunteers, and sponsors who made this event possible! We can't wait to see you next year.

Title Sponsor: Imagine Learning
Breakfast and Cart Sponsor: Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Milwaukee Campus
Putting Green Sponsor: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
Lunch Sponsor: Forward Together Wisconsin
Driving Range Jackie Herd-Barber
In-Kind Sponsor: Milwaukee Bucks, Green Bay Packers, and Jackie Herd-Barber

FORE MKE’s FUTURE Golf Outing Recap + Photos - MPS Foundation On Wednesday, June 26th, the MPS Foundation held its inaugural Golf Outing at Brown Deer Golf Course. The Golf Outing supported numerous programs and services supported by the MPS Foundation such as classroom resources, STEM initiatives, learning journeys, scholarships, and other vital programming.T...

Our first-ever golf outing tomorrow would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Thank you for your investment in Milwaukee's future!

Champion Level Sponsor – Imagine Learning

Breakfast and Cart Sponsor – Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital - Milwaukee Campus

Lunch Sponsor – Forward Together Wisconsin

Driving Range Sponsor – Jackie Herd–Barber

Putting Green Sponsor – Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

Time to get your foursome together! 🏌️🏌️‍♀️🏌️‍♂️🏌️‍♀️

We are thrilled to announce the inaugural MPS Foundation golf outing: FORE MKE'S FUTURE, combining a love for golf with support for Milwaukee Public Schools students, families, and teachers!

💙 Learn more + register: https://mpsfdn.org/fore_mke_golf_classic/

🎓🌟 Congrats to our 2024 scholars! 🎓🌟

This month, we honored 25+ outstanding Milwaukee Public Schools graduating seniors with $115,000 in scholarships! These future leaders, mostly first-generation college students, are ready to make their mark. Thanks to our community for supporting Milwaukee's bright future.

Celebration of Scholars Recap + Photo Gallery - MPS Foundation The MPS Foundation recognized students from 12 MPS high schools with approximately $115,000 in scholarships. The awardees mirrored Milwaukee’s unique diversity, representing high schools from North to South Sides. Nearly 75% of the recipients are prospective first-generation college students, 96% ...

This month, 592 Milwaukee Public Schools students from 49 schools wowed us with 282 amazing projects at the Baird Center! From tornado-proof houses to balloon-powered cars, these young innovators showcased their incredible talent and creativity.

Special highlights include:
🔬 Science Investigations - Answering fun questions like "Which berry will rot the fastest?"
💡 Engineering Designs - Innovative solutions like homemade stethoscopes and magnetic slime.
📚 Research Projects - High school students tackling advanced, college-level topics.

A big shoutout to our partners and lead sponsor, GE HealthCare, for making this day possible.

Check out our blog for a full recap and photo gallery. Let's celebrate our future STEM leaders! 🚀🔭🧪

STEM Fair 2024 Recap + Photo Gallery - MPS Foundation More than 600 students from 50+ MPS schools will displayed their science and engineering expertise in downtown Milwaukee. Students of all ages, from four-year-old kindergarten through 12th grade, will bring hundreds of projects to life when they share them with attendees and judges for the 17th annu...

See and read how more than 2,400 Milwaukee Public Schools students honored 193 countries and cultures at last month's World Fair!

“This beautiful day is what happens when education and philanthropy come together. Only together will we find the solutions that benefit all of humanity and make everyone’s future more promising.” - Willie Jude II, Executive Director, MPS Foundation

2024 UNSIL World Fair Recap + Photo Gallery - MPS Foundation The MPS Foundation hosted over 2,400 students from 17 of the most diverse schools in Milwaukee for the 9th annual UNSIL MPS World Fair on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The celebration allows students in grades 4-8 to showcase what they have learned this year about the 193 member countries in the United....

🎥 Don't miss the Project Pitch It Student Episode this Saturday, May 11, on WISN 12 NEWS at 10:35pm! This special episode features Jaliza Toliver, a Milwaukee Public Schools senior at James E. Groppi High School who has designed an app that offers study help at any hour.

We had the privilege of interviewing Jaliza this week and learning more about her business. Read more about her story on our website.

Jaliza Toliver, MPS student to appear on Project Pitch It - MPS Foundation Jaliza Toliver, a Milwaukee Public Schools senior at James E. Groppi High School appearing on Episode 8 of Season 8 of Project Pitch It (the student episode - Jerry Jendusa's Shining Stars). Episode 8 airs on WISN-TV 12 on Saturday, May 11 at 10:35pm.

🍎✨ Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! 📚🎉

As we celebrate this special week, we're taking a moment to express our deepest gratitude to all the incredible educators in Milwaukee Public Schools and beyond. Each day, they ignite curiosity, inspire, and shape futures. Today, we're especially thinking of phenomenal educators like Roz Davis, whose incredible story of dedication and love is linked here. We are so honored to serve people like her in our community!

Let's make sure to take the time to recognize, thank, and serve the teachers who make a profound impact on our lives and our communities, not just this week, but every single day. Whether it's a simple thank you, a heartfelt note, (or financially supporting them!!), let's show our educators just how much they mean to us.

30 Years of Serving Students: Rozlind Davis' Legacy of Support and Joy - MPS Foundation For 30 years, Rozlind Davis, a dedicated educator in Milwaukee Public Schools, fosters joy, supports families, and invests her own money to meet students' needs.

We're excited to host our Celebration of Scholars event next Wednesday at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee! Thank you to our many generous donors who make these life-changing scholarships possible!

This night is always a very moving one for us and especially for the 74% of awardees who are becoming first-generation college students. A total of $115,000 in scholarships will be distributed to 27 Milwaukee Public Schools students, 96% of whom are students of color.

MPS' Celebration of Scholars to be held at UW-Milwaukee - Milwaukee Community Journal The MPS Foundation will recognize more than 25 extraordinary students by awarding them approximately $115,000 in scholarships during the district’s ‘Celebration of Scholars’ that will be held in the Grand […]

🗣 “I think that we can really do something transformational,” Jude said. “If we work together and give this the right time and energy, I believe the sky’s the limit.” ✨

‘This work is personal’: New Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation leader wants all students to thrive Willie Jude II is bringing 17 years of higher education experience to the Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation.

📣On stands now! You can pick up this month's issue of MKE Lifestyle magazine to learn more about our new leader and his plans for the future.

“Teachers are superheroes,” says Willie. “My wife Joy is a teacher. They’re the front line every day. I continue to ask, ‘What do you need?’ and work with the district to find the appropriate support to move that needle.”

Meet Willie Jude II Anyone who’s had the pleasure of speaking to Willie Jude II can tell that the Wisconsin native is incredibly passionate about his work.

Today's the day! While funds last, donations are doubled on DonorsChoose to teachers who have never been funded. Let's send some hardworking Milwaukee Public Schools teachers their first DonorsChoose delivery!

💜 https://www.donorschoose.org/nbft2024

MPS goes to Washington! 🇺🇸 More than 400 Milwaukee Public Schools students embarked on an unforgettable journey to Washington D.C. this month.

Huge shoutout to Herb Kohl Philanthropies for their unwavering support of Learning Journeys and for making this D.C. trip possible yet again! 🙌 And a heartfelt thank you to Senator Tammy Baldwin and Representative Gwen Moore for taking the time to engage with our scholars during this enriching experience. Your encouragement means the world to us!

Milwaukee Public Schools teachers: Haven’t had your first DonorsChoose delivery yet? No sweat! On February 22, donations are doubled on projects just for you.

Submit a project today and get ready for your first delivery: https://www.donorschoose.org/teachers

As part of Black History Month, the Milwaukee Bucks celebrate Black Excellence in the Arts by releasing a specially designed t-shirt and donating a portion of the proceeds to a local non-profit.

We're excited to announce that we've been selected as this year's recipient! 🥳

Learn more + get one for yourself: https://shop.bucks.com/products/item-of-the-game-milwaukee-bucks-black-history-month-celebration-t-shirt

Thank you to all of our friends and supporters who attended our 2024 Kick-Off at Central Standard Craft Distillery last week!

With your support, we know the future is bright for students and teachers of Milwaukee Public Schools. 💜✨💙

We often see photos of Martin Luther King Jr. in black and white. Seeing him in color reminds us that this wasn’t that long ago, and he was a human like you and me.

We have a lot of work to do in Milwaukee to reach the dreams he spoke about, but if we remember that he was just a man who looked around and wanted a better life for his neighbors, we can make a difference, too.

We have not forgotten his legacy at the MPS Foundation. We will continue doing the daily work of bending the arc toward justice for the 70,000 students, 5,000 teachers, and their families in Milwaukee Public Schools.

🕊 In loving memory of Senator Herb Kohl 🕊

The MPS Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the late Senator Herb Kohl, an extraordinary philanthropist and leader. His indelible legacy of generosity and visionary leadership has left an enduring mark on our community.

Milwaukee has lost a true champion who passionately advocated for our city's future. Senator Kohl's unwavering dedication to education and his unparalleled contributions to Milwaukee Public Schools will never be forgotten.

His philanthropic endeavors have impacted the lives of countless MPS students and teachers, creating a lasting impact that will resonate through generations.

As we mourn the loss of this legendary figure, let us unite in our resolve to continue advocating for quality education. In doing so, we pay homage to Senator Herb Kohl's extraordinary legacy, ensuring that his spirit of generosity and leadership lives on in the pursuit of knowledge and empowerment.

Rest in peace.