Siebert Lutheran Foundation has provided critical dollars towards capital campaigns to schools like St. Marcus School in Milwaukee that are educating some of the city's most impoverished children.
 
St. Marcus School, a college prep school serving predominantly low-income African American students, is dedicated to instilling students with wisdom, a sense of dedication and self-discipline, a positive attitude and Christian faith. Over 70 percent of students live in homes with single parent women heading their households and qualify for the federal school lunch subsidy program.

 

Currently, the school is undergoing a capital campaign seeking $12 million for campus expansion and improvements to the school as well as programs that will enhance their education and outreach services. These additions will allow enrollment to grow to 600 students in a state of the art educational facility. 
 
"The Siebert Foundation values education in a Christian environment and St. Marcus's mission," said Siebert Lutheran Foundation President Ron Jones. "We see this as a privilege to be part of the future of their expansion and for additional students to attend this exceptional school."
 
In fall 2008, the Foundation made a three-year historic operational and programmatic commitment to support the school: $1,000,000 for the building additions and $105,000 for the College Prep Center (CPC). The CPC provides students with behavioral and academic enrichment from 4:00pm until 8:30pm where individualized small group homework support, a nutritious dinner and light recreation are provided under direct supervision of an educator. 
 
The vast majority of St. Marcus's K4 through 8th grade students participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program which allows low-income students to attend private schools.  
 
"Milwaukee is in desperate need of high quality educational options for its children," says Henry Tyson, superintendent for St. Marcus School in Milwaukee. "St. Marcus will succeed in its effort to provide a top quality education for 300 more children because of the bold support of the Siebert Foundation. Before that grant was awarded we thought we could do it. Now we know we can. The impact will be enormous."
 
In providing funding when times are tight for gifting and donations, the Siebert Foundation's contributions are a major achievement and clear message that they are committed to putting Milwaukee's children on the path to college.