Inaugural Benefit Raises $7,000 for Willowville Elementary

The first annual Celebration of Life Benefit took place at King Pin Bowling Lanes on April 28, 2007. 

On the day of the event, there was an overwhelming sense of love, because many people that were impacted by Katie came to celebrate her wonderful life. 

We raised nearly $7,000 to benefit the special needs department at Willowville Elementary School, which was one of the schools where Katie worked as a Speech Pathologist.  Many children found their voices because of Katie.

We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our community. Thanks to everyone who made our inaugural event such a success!

UPDATE from Laura Nazzarine, Principal at time of donation, Willowville Elementary School, on how the Katie Haumesser Foundation donation was used: "We wanted to find interventions for our students that hit all modalities of learning, engaged students through 21st Century Skills- technology and were aligned with Ohio Academic Content Standards. The Katie Haumesser Foundation allowed us to do that for the first time in my tenure as principal.

With the foundation money donated to WV, we purchased Fastt Math (It is an automatic recall computer program that works on fact fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It uses all modalities of learning and students are rewarded as they master their facts. Kids (grades 1-5) use it 15 minutes each day, 5 days per week. Willowville experienced such success with this program, it has now been adopted district wide.), Study Island (Study Island is a leading web-based educational resource for students, teachers and parents that focus on state content standards aligned with the Ohio Achievement Assessment. It is interactive and rewards students throughout the program.

Willowville experienced such success with this program, it has now been adopted district wide.) and Brain Pop (It is an animated education website for students that focuses on Science, Health, Technology, Math, Social Studies, English, quizzes, activity pages, and school homework. Willowville experienced such success with this program, it has now been adopted district wide) with the money raised from the Katie Haumesser Foundation.

Katie not only had a profound impact on my life as a principal and on the students of Willowville Elementary; she had impact on our students district wide. I know she would be proud of us for the way we used her gift, and proud of you Amy for keeping her spirit alive! Thanks for all you do for our special education kids! Have a great summer!"