Don Wood Foundation

The Don Wood Foundation is delighted to support Summit City Robotics, Inc. and their incredible VEX Robotics team, 50421A, Rogue 1! This talented group of 9th and 10th graders from Fort Wayne and Leo are pushing the boundaries of innovation and teamwork. With team members boasting 5 to 9 years of robotics experience, Rogue 1 has consistently excelled, earning top ten placements in regional competitions and numerous judged awards, including EXCELLENCE. This year, they took their talents to the global stage, competing at the VEX WORLDS Championship in Dallas, Texas! ???? By the way, this team competed at Concordia on November 9th and placed 2nd out of 36 teams. They also earned the Amaze Award. The Amaze Award recognizes a consistently high-performing and competitive robot. How cool! We’re honored to support such a passionate and driven group of students as they continue to represent our region with pride, creativity, and skill. Here’s to many more achievements ahead! ???? #Robotics #VEXWorlds #SummitCityRobotics #DonWoodFoundation #FutureLeaders #CampsClubsCompetitions?

?? ICYMI: Watch the Full Segment ?? Last week, Patrick Buesching, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Don Wood Foundation, Elizabeth Bushnell of Questa Education Foundation, and Dr. Karl Einolf of Indiana Tech appeared on PBS PrimeTime to discuss the Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training Study (APETS). Missed it? No worries—you can now watch the full segment on our website! Dive into the discussion about this groundbreaking study and its impact on education and workforce development in northeast Indiana. Watch here and explore the study: https://lnkd.in/gyu65QZw While you’re there, explore the APETS findings and see how they’re shaping opportunities for students, educators, and employers in our community. #EducationInnovation #APETS #WorkforceDevelopment #DonWoodFoundation #PBS

?? Soaring to New Heights in Aerospace Education ?? The Don Wood Foundation is pleased to support NearSpace Education’s Aerospace Camp, where students’ passion for science and engineering takes flight—literally! ?? This hands-on program introduces students to the fascinating aerospace world, offering activities and expert-led sessions on drones, rockets, ballooning, and airplanes. Through field trips, skill-building workshops, and career exploration, participants gained practical knowledge and earned valuable certifications. By inspiring curiosity and equipping students with skills for future roles in aerospace and advanced manufacturing, this camp is preparing the next generation of innovators and professionals. We’re honored to support a program that fosters both learning and dreams that are out of this world! ???? #AerospaceEducation #FutureInnovators #STEMPrograms #NearSpaceEducation #DonWoodFoundation #BuildingDreams #CampsClubsCompetitions

Happy National Entrepreneurship Day! ??? At the Don Wood Foundation, we believe in the power of entrepreneurship to transform communities and create lasting change. Today, we celebrate the innovators, dreamers, and risk-takers in northeast Indiana who turn their visions into reality, fueling growth and inspiring others along the way. Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting businesses—it’s about resilience, creativity, and a commitment to making a positive impact. We’re honored to support entrepreneurs through programs and initiatives that help build thriving ecosystems and unlock new possibilities for our region. To all the entrepreneurs out there: keep dreaming, keep building, and keep inspiring! #NationalEntrepreneurshipDay! #DonWoodFoundation #Entrepreneurship #Innovation

?? Field Trip Friday at JA JobSpark?? The Don Wood Foundation was proud to sponsor this incredible event, where students had the chance to explore hands-on career experiences and get inspired about their future opportunities. ??? We had a blast on Wednesday, capturing the energy and excitement throughout the day in this video! ?? From learning about new technologies to meeting professionals from a variety of industries, it was clear that the students were engaged and eager to discover their passions. #JAJobSpark #FutureLeaders #DonWoodFoundation #CommunityImpact #CareerExploration #NextGeneration

?? Exciting news from the Don Wood Foundation! ?? We’re thrilled to share TWO promotions in our Program Department! Nadine Baker is now our Program Officer for Youth Engagement, where she’ll lead efforts to inspire and empower the next generation of innovators across northeast Indiana. With her dedication to building youth programs, we can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make! And congratulations to Carla Jordan, who’s stepped into the role of Grant Administrator! Carla’s attention to detail and analytical skills are a perfect fit as she manages our grants and supports our grantees in achieving their goals. Congratulations to Nadine and Carla! Proof that hard work really does take the cake! Here’s to more success and more reasons to celebrate! Carla Jordan - Nadine Baker

?? Happy National Philanthropy Day! ?? Today, we celebrate the incredible power of giving and the positive impact it has on our communities. At the Don Wood Foundation, we are deeply inspired by the generosity of our partners, supporters, and all who work to make a difference. Together, we’re building brighter futures and creating opportunities for growth, innovation, and success. Join us in honoring everyone who plays a role in driving change—thank you for your commitment to making our world a better place, one step at a time! ?? Laura M. Macknick, MA CFRE - Carla Jordan - Nadine Baker - Susan Mendenhall - Lizette Downey - Emilia Miles - Lisa Smith - Julie Brown #NationalPhilanthropyDay #DonWoodFoundation #GivingBack #CommunityImpact #BetterTogether

Delighted to be hearing from LaKoya Gardner with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy from the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy on charitable giving in 2023 at this morning’s #NationalPhilanthropyDay breakfast hosted by AFP of Northeast Indiana. Honored also to be among the esteemed nominees for this year’s annual awards! Thank you to my Don Wood Foundation colleagues for being with me this morning! Susan Mendenhall, Nadine Baker, Emilia Miles, Lizette Downey, Lisa Smith, Carla Jordan and Julie Brown.

?? Honoring Our Veterans This Veterans Day ?? Today, on Veterans Day, we pause to honor the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of those who have served in our nation’s armed forces. At the Don Wood Foundation, we are grateful for the men and women whose commitment to protecting our freedom and security goes beyond words. We proudly support veterans in our Fort Wayne community and beyond. To all veterans: Thank you. Your service is invaluable, and we are forever in your debt.

Flashback Friday ?? We’re still thrilled by last week’s incredible turnout of over 250 community leaders, including K-12 and higher education officials, educators, philanthropists, nonprofits, and business leaders! Together with the Questa Education Foundation, we hosted a special breakfast event where the latest insights from the Advancing Postsecondary Education and Training Study (APETS) were shared. Watch this short recap video to catch some highlights and hear the impactful takeaways that our community members took home. Want to get involved? Head over to the Don Wood Foundation’s website using the link below. There, you can explore ways to engage, prioritize ideas for Coalition working groups, access the full study, and sign up to stay connected with our initiatives. https://lnkd.in/g6ZYiSvz Let’s keep building a brighter future, together! #FlashbackFriday #CommunityImpact