MADISON — The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation has received its fourth grant from The Evjue Foundation in support of the Wisconsin Civics Games. The $5,000 grant brings Evjue’s total support of the games since its launch by the WNAF to $25,000.
The Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of The Capital Times, announced $1.6 million in Madison-area grants on Wednesday.
The grants are made possible by the will of the newspaper’s late founder and longtime editor, William T. Evjue, who directed that the proceeds from his stock in the newspaper be returned to the community for worthy causes. Since his death in 1970, the foundation has awarded nearly $70 million to hundreds of charitable, cultural and educational organizations in the Dane County area.
Decisions on grants are made by a 15-member board of directors. Seven represent The Capital Times Co.: Jim Lussier, who also serves as chair, Laura Lussier-Lee, Dawn Lussier, Nancy Gage, Clayton Frink, Dave Zweifel and Paul Fanlund. Four directors represent the UW Foundation: Anne Lucke, Marion Brown, Brenda Gonzalez and Eric Salisbury. The final four represent the Madison Community Foundation: Bob Sorge, Jim Bradley, Tom Linfield and Therese Gulbransen. Michelle Reynolds is the foundation’s executive director.
The WNAF launched the Wisconsin Civics Games after recognizing a dramatic decline in civics education and engagement in Wisconsin and across the nation. Winners of the team competition during which participants are quizzed on their civics knowledge receive $2,000 scholarships to a state college or university of their choice.
