Established through a $175 million founding gift from John and Tashia Morgridge, the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars hands out financial grants to eligible, highly talented yet less fortunate graduates of Wisconsin public schools who attend Wisconsin public post-secondary schools. Around 2,000 $1,000 to $5,000 grants were reserved for the 2008-2009 school year. The fund’s main aim is to help reduce financial barriers, thereby cutting back students’ debts normally incurred during college years.

Tashia, a retired elementary school teacher; and John, chairman emeritus of Cisco Systems, Inc., are committed to establishing a personal endowment meant to help improve educational access which, they believe, can be a way of generating interest among young people to continue their education.

Grants and funds are awarded through the University of Wisconsin System two- and four-year colleges, and the Wisconsin Technical College System. Financial aid offices distribute the funds to eligible public high school graduates.

The fund’s Board of Trustees is made up of some of the country’s influential leaders and philanthropic workers: John Daniels, Jr. of the Greater Milwaukee Committee; Mary Gulbrandsen (a healthcare and quality education advocate); Ted D. Kellner (who has donated significantly to University of Wisconsin-Madison); and David Ward (of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development).

Aside from the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars, the Morgridges carry out their commitment to social philanthropy through various endowments to several Wisconsin organizations like the creation of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery ($50 million); $10.8 million worth of computer equipment (including curriculum and training) for different computer networking learning centers in Wisconsin; and the renovation of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Education Building (worth $31 million).

A relatively new organization, Fund for Wisconsin hopes to inspire other groups and individuals to join in their efforts of improving the state of education in the United States.