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The Wood River Cemetery Association honors the memories of those buried by maintaining and improving headstones.

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Since the early days of barn raisings, quilting societies and husking bees, Americans have realized that their lives and fortunes are bound together. By sharing, they improve their well-being. Today, an extension of that cooperative spirit presents itself in the function of the community foundation, which was created for a community’s philanthropic support of itself. The Wood River Community Centennial Foundation started as a dream … a dream of improving the quality of life in Wood River and the surrounding area. That dream became a reality in 1984 with the formation of the Wood River Community Centennial Foundation. It is a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Nebraska with perpetual existence. It is qualified as a section 501(c)(3) charitable foundation entitling donors tax deductions for Federal Income and Estate tax purposes.

The mission of WRCCF is to encourage, receive and administer contributions and gifts for the benefit of the Wood River area. Funding for WRCCF is received from individuals, businesses, corporations and estates.  Contributions and memorials can be made in the form of cash, securities, real estate, life insurance and bequests.

WRCCF Assets as of December 31,2021 $630,000.00
Grants on December 31, 2021 $751,500.00
Scholarships on December 31, 2021 $213,835.00

For more information about donations and grant requests contact one of the Board members:
Heather Zessin, Abby Rennau, Jason Rotter, Dave Harders, Blanca Rodriguez, Jenny Reeder, Peggy Krause, Kaye Doane, Mary Harders, Adrienne Gill & Pam Kjar.  Judy Wagoner Executive Secretary, Wood River Community Centennial Foundation

Contributions may be left at the Heritage Bank in Wood River or mailed to PO Box 493, Wood River, NE 68883

You can contact the Foundation at PO Box 493, Wood River, NE 68883

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Mission Statement
The Wood River Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), in cooperation with the community of Wood River, encourages an attitude of support, pride and enthusiasm that promotes a positive school/community relationship, enhancing our children’s educational environments, and influencing our children’s future success.

Purpose

• To promote Parent/Teacher cooperation in the overall education of our children.
• To conduct fundraising activities to ensure that state of the art educational materials are available to all the children of Wood River.
• To host activities that encourage family involvement in the educational process.
• To support individual teachers in the classrooms.
• To show appreciation to the educational staff, who influence our children’s future.
• To encourage community involvement in school functions in order to enhance the future of the City of Wood River.

Membership
Membership is open to any parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school, teachers, interested citizens of the City of Wood River, alumni or other patrons who wish to become involved. Best of all, it’s Free!

Meetings
Meetings are held monthly during the school year in the cafeteria at the grade school. This amounts to only 7 meetings for 1 to 1½ hours. Meeting times and dates will be announced in the weekly school bulletin. Attendance is open to anyone interested in contributing to  enhancing our children’s education.

Contact Info
For more information please contact Chelsie Doane, 308-380-2552
[email protected]

Items provided with past fund-raising efforts
Classroom projectors, Camera security system, Art Hanging Strips, Classroom Supplies, Field Trip Founding, Cameras, Planners, Golden Sower Books, Smart Board, Lighted school sign in cooperation with Student Council, Science supplies, Playground equipment, outside lighting.

Activities Sponsored by PTO

• Book Fair- The Book Fair is held during Parent-Teacher Conferences in October. This is an opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping or donate a book to your child’s classroom. The school library, as well as the classrooms, receive free books from this event.
• Teacher Appreciation- This is our opportunity to show the Teachers how much we appreciate all that they do for our children.
• Fund-raisers- PTO raises funds to achieve the purposes of our organization and improve the school for students and staff.
• Boxtops for Education- Save those General Mills Boxtops. The PTO collects these each year to redeem for cash and prizes.
• Pumpkin Trail- The PTO provides pumpkins for the students to take home and decorate. After the pumpkins are returned to school, a pumpkin trail takes over the gym. Families are invited to view the pumpkins, enjoy snacks and drinks and spend time with other families.
• Bingo for Books- All students and their families are invited to come play Bingo, enjoy some snacks, and win books & prizes. It is a fun and free evening for everyone!

We are always looking for fresh ideas. Your ideas as well as your helping hands are always welcome. Together, we can provide a quality education for our children.

Whether you can find a few minutes a week, an hour a month, or can volunteer only once a year, your child and school will benefit!

Purpose:
The Wood River Rural Schools Booster Club is a committee interested in supporting Wood River High School activities and organizations. All are welcome so come get involved!

Fundraiser Information:
For the past 20+ years the Booster Club has done one annual event to raise money for school programs. It is entirely dependent upon volunteer help so we thank you in advance for  pitching in! We run a concession stand, called the Eagles Nest, at Husker Harvest Days (HHD). In case you’re not familiar with HHD, it’s one of the largest farm shows in the U.S. drawing thousands of people to central Nebraska mid-September each year. HHD is held just north of Wood River and Alda. In a typical year with good weather the Eagles Nest raises roughly $25,000, ALL of which is reinvested throughout the year in Wood River High School’s facilities, organizations and student enrichment opportunities. Our school district is very fortunate to have this fundraising opportunity so we need to keep the project going from year to year.

The Booster Club needs the volunteer support of the students’ families and community members in order to make this event successful! PLEASE sign up to work a shift during the 3-day event during the second week of September. Each August you’ll find a sign up link on the Booster Club Facebook page or school  website.

Booster Club’s Accomplishments:
Through dollars raised from the concession booth at Husker Harvest Days, the Booster Club has been able to provide the following during the past 5-10 years:

• New outdoor pole signs with digital messaging at both the MS/HS and Elementary schools (Costs shared 1/3 each by Booster Club, Wood River Foundation, and Grace Koepp Foundation)
• $10,000 toward new overhead lights in the MS/HS main gym
• $10,000 toward sound system upgrades in the MS/HS performing arts theater
• $5,000 toward new football field scoreboard
• $10,000 toward weight room upgrades
• Four $250 scholarships to graduating seniors annually
• Scholarships to send several HS students to state leadership conferences annually as well as FFA and FBLA State Conventions
• Financial support to bring down student costs to participate in band trip and Close-Up trip
• Sports equipment including golf bags and range finders, VB ACCU-Spike, sideline benches for FB field, weight room equipment, Cross Country Fun Run, track tent, high jump mats, pole vault poles, and , BB training equipment, FB headsets, VB video equipment, and wrestling clock
• Athletic uniforms for Track, VB, FB, BB and golf
• HUDL software purchase and Digital Scout subscription for exchanging scouting videos
• Uniforms, Pom Poms and camp fees for Cheer/Dance Squad plus dry cleaning the Eagle costume
• Funding for band, choir, Show Choir and theater/musical as well as yearbook and Post Prom
• Senior banners hung in gym and photographer fee for graduation

So you can see that virtually every student’s educational and extra-curricular experience is impacted by Wood River Booster Club’s efforts. Thank you for continuing the strong Booster Club legacy by volunteering!

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Wood River Vision 20/20, a task force of volunteers, seeks to help connect ideas and resources to make Wood River an even better place to live and work today and for  generations to come. The following working groups were formed to promote a vibrant and growing community:

• Child Care (began work in 2018 and opened the fantastic Stick Creek Kids Child Development Center in Wood River May 2021)
• Wood River Vision Business Association (promoting and supporting Wood River businesses);
• Aesthetics (beautification of the entire community including downtown and Highway 30 corridor)
• Housing (clean-up dilapidated lots and expansion of building site choices, owner-occupied rehab grant)
• Parks & Recreation (re-vitalization and new development of park amenities)

Stay abreast of Vision projects and get involved!

More projects are in the future of Wood River Vision 20/20, so please join us in making Wood River a place to raise your family.

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Anti Discrimination Policy

The members, officers, directors, and committee members, of, and the persons served by this entity shall be selected entirely on a non-discriminatory basis with respect to age, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, religion, disability, national origin and sexual orientation.

Diversity & Equity Inclusion Statement

We acknowledge that racism and discrimination create obstacles for marginalized ethnic and social groups of people. We believe inequitable systems prevent all community members from living their fullest potential. We believe in intentionally making decisions that provide fair treatment, access and opportunity for all people.

The Wood River ball association is a volunteer organization that aims to provide the community with recreational youth softball and baseball leagues during the spring/summer. 

For more information, contact Chelsie Doane 308-380-2552 

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