Foundation started in Wallace to benefit school, entire community

By Becky Uehling

Grant Tribune-Sentinel

Service to community. This one phrase is the summation behind the desire to begin a newly formed foundation in Wallace for Wallace School Superintendent Joel Ferguson and Principal Bob Braithwait.

In the fall of 2021, Braithwait accepted the position of principal at Wallace, a position that Ferguson had held until he was hired to fill the Superintendent roll with the retirement of Tom Sandberg in June 2021. As Ferguson and Braithwait began getting to know one another, Ferguson learned a lot about Braithwait’s philanthropic pursuits during his 30-year tenure at Arapahoe schools, where he was the principal before coming to Wallace.

Approximately 10 years ago, Braithwait, with the help of his wife, began a foundation in Arapahoe with the sole motivation of assisting any family within the Arapahoe School District who needed material help, and it all started with a comment from a child about what he got for Christmas, Braitwait said.

“I was asking some kids what they got for Christmas. One kid told me I got a bike. Another kid said, I got some roller skates, and the last one said he got a pencil and socks,” Braithwait said. “And I thought, no kid should just get a pencil and socks for Christmas.”

Braithwait went home the same day and told his wife what had happened, and they decided that although they had four kids of their own, they wanted to help other kids as well to have a brighter Christmas, or adequate school supplies or with whatever essentials they needed.

When Ferguson heard about the foundation Braithwait helped to start, he liked the idea so much he decided to implement a similar one in Wallace, but with a broader scope to include the entire community and encompass a wide variety of needs. He asked Braithwait to join him, which Braithwait gladly agreed to.

“I commend Joel for taking the initiative and starting this new foundation with his own money,” Braithwait said.

The foundation will be run, discreetly, out of the Wallace School, and will be for the entire community, not just those with children in school.

Items obtained through the foundation will include not only clothing and school supplies, but also canned food, funds for perishable goods, among other items people may need, Braithwait said. Wallace currently does not have a food pantry, with the closest ones being in Grant or North Platte, Ferguson said. The men hope to eventually find a location in downtown Wallace to house the foundation.

“We hope that once people see what effect it has on the community that it will just take off in terms of donations given,” Braithwait said.

Donations are always being accepted by the foundation. Those who would like to donate gently used clothing, school supplies, canned food, money or other items, are asked to contact the school at 308-387-4323 for more information.

Braithwait said he and Ferguson do not want any credit for what they are doing, especially from the kids. “We want to empower people to help them care for their families,” he said. “We don’t need any recognition.” Ferguson agreed.