Enterprise Education Foundation

Welcome to the Enterprise Education Foundation's website! Our intent with this website is to keep you informed of things that the Foundation is working on.

First, lets give you a little bit of history on the Enterprise Education Foundation. The Foundation was formed in 1998 when the State of Oregon cut funding to rural schools throughout Oregon. When this happened, Enterprise was forced to cut the art, music, vocational agriculture, and home economic classes for kids in grades K - 12. Five families got together, and decided that this cut was not acceptable, and started the process on what could be done to save these programs. The founding members of the EEF were the families of Roy Garten, Mike Wiedeman, Randy Strohm, Jim Dawson, and John Hillock. Out of these founding members Mike is still active on the Board, while the other families still support the EEF in other ways!

Since the inception of the EEF, the programs have been saved, and the friends of the EEF, past alumni, our small community and various other people continue to support the EEF.

The EEF is working 12 months out of the year trying to find different ways to raise money. Our current projects include an ice cream social/come and meet and greet Kacie the new K - 12 art teacher which is the night of the Open House at Enterprise Schools, 1st annual chili cook off and dance with music provided by Craig Nichols, Dub Darnielle, Tim Kiesecker and Henry Kinsley, School Carnival, Winter Classic Basketball Tournament, Oregon Trail Basketball Tournament, Annual Pledge Drive, escrip and applying for various grants.

What is the Art Department working on???

Kacie Recla, our new K - 12 FULL TIME ART TEACHER is working on a poster contest with the kids. The poster contest invites 1st through 5th grade students across the nation to compete. Students are to create an original drawing of either Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl with their respective slogans, “Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires!” and “Lend a Hand—Care for the Land!” Students are to promote the beliefs of either Smokey or Woodsy in their posters through their understanding of fire prevention and conservation. The contest is sponsored by local Garden Clubs and Forest Services. Entries will be turned in to the Local Garden Club Chair and then submitted to the State Garden Club Chair. The five winning state entries will be turned in to the Regional Garden Club Chair, and eventually be qualified for a national award. The Grand Prize National Poster Contest Winner will win a free round trip airfare and accommodations for four to Washington, DC. A $100 U.S. Savings Bond will also be awarded to the First Place National Winners from each grade level sponsored by the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

We Love Our Kids Dinner Auction

On April 3th, 2009, at the Cloverleaf Hall in Enterprise, Oregon, we will have our annual dinner auction. At this event last year we raised over $21,000! The proceeds from this auction went directly to the art and music programs. We are already in the planning stages, and watch for a big celebration as the Enterprise Education Foundation celebrates its 10 year anniversary! Mark your calendars--you won't want to miss this event!

School Carnival

Our School Carnival is held in March. This is not one of our biggest money making events, but this event is put on because it is fun for the kids! Each class decorates their game area, and you could experience anything from a ring toss, fishing for prizes, duck swimming, plinko, hoop shooting contests, and the ever popular cake walk! This event is fun for kids of all ages, and it is fun to see the kids enjoy their time going from one booth to the next!

Basketball Tournaments

The EEF puts on two different basketball tournaments in the winter. The Winter Classic is sponsored by Sterlings Bank and is an opportunity for our 3 area schools and one other visiting team to enjoy a double elimination tournament. This tournament is usually the second weekend in December, and the EEF arranges for the hospitality room for coaches and refs, as well as clothing sales, and a club often gets the concessions for the teams and spectators. Last year, this event was sponsored by Sterling Savings. The Oregon Trail Classic is usually between Christmas and New Years and is held in Pendleton. Last year the Red Lion and Sterlings sponsored the event, and we saw schools from Sherman County, North Powder, Enterprise and Weston competing for top position. This tournament is co sponsored by Red Lion and Sterling Savings.

The Pledge Drive

The Pledge Drive continues to be a success! Our first pledge drive was very well received by alumni, locals, friends of the EEF, businesses, and estates. It is heart warming to see the support year after year that people provide to the EEF. Our first Pledge Drive we asked people to pledge $500 a year for 5 years. The 5th year of the Pledge drive was in 2007, and we again asked people to continue their Pledges. The Pledges are very important to our continuation of the community goal of providing art, music, home economics and vo ag to our students. Please contact us if you would like more information on how to pledge your support.

Grants and Donations

The Foundation was again awarded another $2,000 grant from PacifiCorp. We were awarded $2,000 last year which was used to replace the existing piano that is kept in the Multipurpose Room for operettas, concerts, and plays. The generous grant this year will be used to aid in the restocking of the art departments supplies for the art classes K - 12. Thank you to PacifiCorp for your grant! We are excited to purchase supplies for the kids!!

Safeway eScrip Program

The EEF has also been very active in getting people signed up for escrip. Escrip is a program that is offered thru Safeway that when you have your Safeway card registered, everytime you purchase something from Safeway, a percentage goes back to the Enterprise Education Foundation. Last year, through Safeway and eScrip, over $10,500 was donated back to our EEF. Signing up for eScrip is very easy! Visit Safeway and register your Safeway Club Card to benefit the EEF. If you prefer, you may contact us and provide us with your Safeway card number, and we will register your card for you! This is a FREE program that Safeway and eScrip offer - Safeway will contribute a percentage on EVERY item your purchase at NO cost to you!

Enterprise School Apparel

Also offerred through the EEF is clothing with the school logo. You can purchase t-shirts, sweatshirts, stadium chairs, shorts, windshirts, etc. If we don't have your item, or your size, we are happy to order and deliver to you! You may contact Nora for more information on the clothing.

Enterprise Education Foundation Board

Our current EEF Board consists of a very diverse group of people, but we feel that this lends itself to getting all of our "bases covered" if you will.

Cindi Aschenbrenner - President

Cindi is married to Chad and both went to Enterprise K-12. They have 2 children, Sarah and Coy, both in the elementary. Cindi owns and operates Wallowa Lake Vacation Rentals. Cindi has been on the EEF board for 3 years. In addition to the EEF, Cindi delivers Meals on Wheels, coaches baseball, and is Co-Chair of the annual American Red Cross Blood Drives. In her spare time, she enjoys anything outdoors, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Mike Wiedeman - Vice President

Mike is currently the Board Vice President. Mike was one of the original founding members of the EEF. Mike was born in a very small coastal town and learned what binds a small community together at a very young age. He continues to volunteer in anything that benefits the community, and is very active in volunteering on numerous boards that are related to his industry of logging. Mike has been married to Sandy (who is the Secretary of the Enterprise Elementary) for 29 years. Mike and Sandy have 3 grown children, all of whom attended Enterprise, and one granddaughter. In his spare time, Mike enjoys hunting, fishing, and woodworking and is a huge Nascar fan!

Anne Chericone - Secretary

Anne Chericone became Secretary in the Spring of 2008. She and her husband Denis moved to Enterprise three years ago. They have two children, Carmen and Camillo. Carmen is in Kindergarten and Camillo attends college in Portland. In addition to the EEF, Anne volunteers her time with Chief Joseph Summer Camp, Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, T Ball, and various fund raising projects. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, reading, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.

Amber Wulff - Treasurer

Amber Wulff is currently the Board Treasurer. She has been on the board for 4 years and attended Enterprise 1st thru 12th grade. Amber currently has two kids--Jordan in Junior High and Ashton in Elementary. She also serves on the Enterprise School Board, ESD Budget committee, and is Secretary of Wallowa Valley Little League. In her spare time, Amber enjoys hunting, gardening, reading, coaching, and spending time with her kids and friends.

Nora Stangel - Member

Nora Nora has been active with the board since April 2003 when the Parents Club dissolved. She is married to Bob Stangel, who attended school in Enterprise K-12. They have 4 children ranging from high school down to elementary. Nora is a Nurse and is the Director of the local Home Health and Hospice Department. Between volunteering with School projects (FFCLA, FFA, sports and class time) and the EEF projects, Nora enjoys reading and spending time at home with family.

Rob Madsen - Member

Rob Madsen joined the EEF Board in October 2007. He and his wife Joan have 2 children, Sarah and James, both attending Enterprise Elementary. In his spare time, Rob enjoys outdoor activities including mountain biking, trail running, skiing and camping with the family. When not enjoying his spare time, Rob is an engineer with Devco Engineering in Enterprise.

Chuck Simpson - Member

Chuck works for ODFW in the screens and passage program. He is married to Tracy and have a son Steven who is high school and daughter Stephanie who is in Jr. High. Their children are both involved in many programs supported by EEF, which Chuck has been involved with for 4 years. Currently, Chuck is the Captain in the Enterprise Fire Department and a volunteer fireman for 11 years. He also coached little league baseball/softball for 8 years and currently coaches a 14U ASA team and assist with the Enterprise/Joseph High School Softball teams. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting just about anything and to fish for Steelhead.

Donnie Rynerson - Member

Donnie Rynearson is a new member to our board. Donnie and his wife Kayla live in Enterprise and he is a 1997 Graduate of Enterprise. Along with being involved with EEF, Donnie is involved with the youth in our community in Little League, Elks youth activities, including the Hoop Shoot and Easter Egg Hunt, and High School Officiating. When he has spare time, he enjoys softball, hunting, fishing, and camping.

Carl Sanders - Member

Carl is a father of 2 in Enterprise Elementary. He has been in Enterprise since the summer of 2006 when he relocated with his family from Redmond, OR where he was the president of a non-profit and stayed at home full time with his children. Carl is a graduate of Oregon State University with degrees in Fisheries Science and Wildlife Science and is a U.S. Army veteran of the Persian Gulf War. He is also on the board of directors for Chief Joseph Summer Camp, coaches tee ball, and leads a Wallowa County 4-H Fly Fishing Club.

If you would like additional information on the EEF or would like to become involved with the EEF either with a gift of your time, pledge, donation, estate bequeth, etc., please contact us! We are happy to share with you the EEF and all the good that is happening! You may contact us at kidsfirst@enterpriseeducationfoundation.com or contact our Board Officers.