The Steele Family Foundation 2023 Fourth Quarter Update!
The Steele Family FoundationWe’re excited to share with you the Steele Family Foundations 2023 fourth quarter update on the ongoing progress of our three pillars: Education, Homeless/Hospice/Additions and Grassroots Programs, with a strong focus on our WISE Scholarship Program™.
St. Xaviers Academy School, Mathigiri India
The Steele Family Foundation is pleased to report that, as 2023 came to a close, the St. Xavier’s Academy School has just achieved a transformative milestone. The construction of a fully-equipped second level was completed, significantly expanding and enriching the school’s infrastructure!
Empowering Change Through the Change Makers Co-Op Program
At The Steele Family Foundation, we believe in nurturing potential at every level. A shining example of this commitment is our Change Makers program, where we had the privilege of having Vinaya Luthra, a psychology research student hired from the University of Waterloo, join us for her second co-op term.
Vinaya’s contributions were instrumental in developing localized psychometric questions for the WISE platform, a crucial step in profiling students for tailored educational guidance. Her work played a key role in our efforts to equip guidance counsellors and Senior Scholarship Administrators (SSAs) with insightful analytics to manage their WISE programs effectively.
Reflecting on her journey, Vinaya shares, “My experience at the foundation was phenomenal. The opportunity to apply my education in psychology, education, and research has been transformative. I’ve grown professionally and personally, enhancing skills like research, writing, and critical thinking. The supportive environment at SFF helped me build confidence in my abilities”. We are honoured to have contributed to her professional development and are confident that her contributions will have a long-term impact on the WISE program and our Stranded Superstars.
Funding & Launching the JKL Admin Mobile/Web App
In collaboration with the Just Keep Livin Foundation, The Steele Family Foundation helped fund and developed the JKL Admin Mobile/Web App. This new app serves as a management tool that now simplifies and streamlines JKL’s administrative tasks. It also fully integrates the WISE scholarship platform, allowing for more efficient management and oversight of the JKL-WISE Scholarship Program.
Strengthening Global Partnerships: Workshop in Vienna
The Steele Family Foundation organized a three-day workshop at the SOS Children’s Villages International office. This gathering marked a significant milestone in our collaborative journey, focusing on the Youth Thrive Project through the WISE Scholarship Program.
The workshop provided an important environment for in-depth discussions about strategic planning and program development. It was an opportunity to further examine new approaches to empowering vulnerable youth aged 15 to 18 in Zimbabwe, Africa, as part of our ongoing commitment to making a global impact through education.
Spotlight on The Arts Scene Podcast
We’re thrilled to continue funding/sponsoring “The Arts Scene Podcast with Lynette and Ari,” which is powered by The WISE Scholarship Program, for the second year in a row. This insightful weekly podcast, hosted by media member Lynette Carrington and Ari Levin of the Madison Center for the Arts, delves into the vibrant world of arts. Covering everything from theatre and dance to music and film, the podcast shines a light on the educational and community aspects of the arts.
Michael Steele spoke about the WISE Scholarship Program in episode 12: wise-scholarship.info/podcast-episode
2023 WISE Scholarship Influencers Dinner
The Steele Family Foundation’s second WISE Scholarship Influencers Dinner held at Gainey Ranch Golf Club was another significant event, celebrating the impactful work of the WISE Scholarship Program. The evening brought together influencers, partners, and advocates from the education sector, encouraging discussions about empowering ‘Stranded Superstars’ and enhancing educational opportunities.
It was also enriched by performances from two very talented artists: Roberta Battaglia, AGT’s Golden Buzzer winner, and Eden Cislo, the Arizonian Solid Rock runner-up!
A special video message from Matthew McConaughey further highlighted the evening, as he expressed his support for the WISE Scholarship Program’s influence on his JKL students.
We were also very honoured by the attendance of Jimmy and Nancy Walker from Grace Sober Living, representatives from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale and influential community figures like Andre Wadsworth, Bryce & Paul Perkins, and Carey Pena, whose participation and insights were very significant!
SFF Awarded for International Philanthropy
We’re deeply honoured to announce that The Steele Family Foundation has been recognized with the 2023 CAF America Excellence in International Philanthropy/Education Award. This prestigious accolade from Charities Aid Foundation of America celebrates our dedication and impact through the WISE Scholarship Program™.
It places us among The Andrea Bocelli Foundation as the other recipient of this 2023 award as well as past esteemed recipients like E4E Relief and The Prince’s Foundation. This recognition has inspired us to continue our mission of empowering Stranded Superstars across the world with even greater impact!
Thank you to our kind donors who have contributed to The Steele Family Foundation-WISE Scholarship Program. We’d like to acknowledge The Mario Dozzo Foundation, The Constance and Gary Levine Charitable Trust, Ward & Laurie Seymour, and everyone else who graciously supports our foundation!
We are grateful for the progress made and the lives impacted through The Steele Family Foundation and our WISE Scholarship Program.
We’re excited about the journey ahead this year for 2024, and we’re committed to continuing our mission of empowering ‘Stranded Superstars’ through education.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with us and stay tuned for further updates!
