Walleyes for Kids’ donation supports youth program

By Angie Landsverk

Scholarships are available for families who cannot afford the fees for Waupaca Park and Rec youth programs.

“This is the second year we have been fortunate enough to work with Walleyes for Kids in creating scholarship opportunities for our youth programs. In 2015, Walleyes for Kids contributed $1,000 and have given an additional $2,000 in 2016,” said Parks and Recreation Director Aaron Jenson.

The mission of the nonprofit Walleyes for Kids is to help children discover sports.

When the Parks and Rec Department set up the scholarship program last year, it worked with school guidance counselors to identify potential scholarship recipients.

Jenson said most of the programs cost $33 or $38 at a resident rate.

This past year, the department distributed a little more than $800 in youth program scholarships, he said.

This year, the department decided to create an application for the Walleyes for Kids Youth Program Scholarship.

“We wanted to make it more accessible to people and easier for them to use the fund, so we created an application,” said Andrew Whitman, the city’s recreation programmer.

Scholarships will be offered to those who are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program.

Those who live in the city of Waupaca and towns of Dayton, Farmington and Waupaca are eligible to apply for scholarships.

Scholarship applications will be accepted for youth programs the Parks and Recreation Department offers.

A scholarship application will be required per youth participant and per program.

When an application is approved, 100 percent of the program’s fee will be applied.

The department will grant scholarships as long as funds remain in the account.

Whitman said families may pick up scholarship applications at the recreation center.

People may also visit www.cityofwaupaca.org/parksnrec/2016/10/27/walleyes-for-kids-scholarship to access the the scholarship form online.

In addition, some of the guidance counselors in the school district have the application form, Whitman said.

Completed scholarship applications need to be returned to the parks and rec office.

Those who need help filling out the application or who have questions may stop in at the recreation center or call it at 715-258-4435 to receive assistance.

“It can be used for any program,” Whitman said.

The application form is always accessible and may used at any time of the year, he said.

Families may click on www.cityofwaupaca.org/parksnrec for overall information about the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and its recreational opportunities for youth.

The Parks and Recreation Department appreciates the support of Walleyes for Kids.

“If other organizations or individuals are interested in donating to a cause such as this or any other, I would encourage them to reach out to me at any time,” Jenson said. “We are fortunate to have individuals and organizations within our community who put in great effort to make sure these types of opportunities exist. We feel very fortunate to work with these people and are always looking to expand on partnerships to meet needs within our community.”