Our Mission


As a non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive impact, we invite you to explore our website and learn more about our mission, initiatives, and how you can support students in our community.

We believe that together, we can make a difference, creating opportunities for those that need it most. Consider joining us to make education more accessible and equitable through scholarships. With the help of generous donors like you, we can provide the means for aspiring student to achieve their dreams and create a brighter future.

WDEF Board


“The foundation was created with one simple driving force in mind, our love for our community. An ongoing effort to provide a lasting, sustainable benchmark for the kids of the Wisconsin Dells High School in the form of Scholarships. Each and every student should have an opportunity to pursue their dreams, for it is through hard work, dedication, and perseverance that all things are possible. The foundation was designed to help our youth bring their dreams and goals to reality.”
— Todd Nelson, Owner of Kalahari Resorts

“You can measure the fiber of a community by the education it is willing to give its youth. The ultimate vision of the Foundation is to create a large enough endowment in order to provide any WDHS graduate who desires to continue his/her education, with financial assistance. The Foundation, when fully funded, will provide scholarships for overall academic achievement as well as excellence in various fields of study.”
— Tom Diehl- Founding Board Member of the WDEF. Tom passed away in 2024. He is greatly missed.