About The Jefferson Foundation
The Jefferson Foundation was incorporated in 1983 as an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization by a group of citizens concerned with maintaining the high quality of Jeffco
Public Schools. They were confronting society’s changing expectations of public schools
as local bridges of public and private interests in education, and the founders believed
that civic, cultural and business institutions in the community should have more investment
in local schools.
"This is an audacious, grandiose proposal. It envisions the creation of an educational foundation to be established in connection with Jefferson County School District R-1, for
the express purpose of having a major impact on the quality of American education," said Kirk Brady, Jeffco School Board Member (1975-1994.)
The Jefferson Foundation is the oldest continuous nonprofit K-12 public education foundation in the State of Colorado. Though the look of the Foundation may have changed over time, it continues to pursue the legacy of its founding members.
Kirk Brady and Judy (Carstens) Wonning envisioned
a foundation to provide additional resources to
the students of Jeffco Public Schools.
First Foundation Presidents:
Jane Oehm (1987)
R. Haydn Silleck (1986)
Wayne VanArsdale (1985)