For over 25 years, Ready Set School has worked to work to ensure that all K-12 students in Winona County have the basic supplies and clothing necessary for school. All funds raised by the organization go directly to the students’ families in the form of vouchers so they can decide whether to purchase supplies, clothing, or a combination of both.
In 2024, Ready Set School received a $5,000 community grant from the Winona Community Foundation to help sustain their program for the 2025-2026 school year. With this help of this grant, over 1,000 Winona County students were served. 1,009 vouchers worth 65 dollars each were given to families in need, an increase in the voucher dollar amount than previous years.
“Our main goal is to reduce the financial burden on families and teachers while giving students the tools they need for educational success. We are so grateful for the generous support we have received over the years and our board members are actively looking to add more events, donors, and partners.” -Emily Tipton, RSS Director
Ready Set School is sustained by donations, grants, and local events, and serves students whose families qualify for either free and reduced lunch, housing subsidy, and/or food support who attend a school in Winona County. To learn more about Ready Set School or to make a donation, visit readysetschoolwinona.org.
An important part of the Winona Community Foundation’s mission is realized though awarding community grants to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. Funding for this program comes from generous people, like you, who invest in the community and the Foundation. Whether through direct donations, establishing endowments, or holding charitable funds at the Foundation, these diverse sources of funding are instrumental in supporting the community grant program. As a result, local nonprofits in the Winona area greatly benefit from this program, which has become an essential asset in meeting the needs of the community.
