Sister Water Project

Sister Water Project, a committee of the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, IA. plans mission trips to Tanzania, Africa to help local villagers have access to clean and safe water. Two board members from the Schoen Family Charitable Trust traveled with a group for one of the trips. They had an unforgettable time and were both deeply moved by their experience. Upon returning, they suggested The Sister Water Project committee submit a grant request to our foundation to financially support their mission.

After hearing about their mission trip The Schoen Family Charitable Trust board voted unanimously to help and were able to provide funding to support the installation of a sustainable ring well and hand pump that will bring clean year round water to the villagers in Sungura-Kidudwe, Tanzania. It is expected this well will serve over 780 people, the majority of whom hold and run small farms.

Make-A-Wish Golf for Wishes

During such a difficult year it was great to be part of an event with such a positive outcome. Members from our board participated in Golf for Wishes 2020 making an impact on one child’s life.

Ivy, a spirited five year old, and her family will be escaping to Walt Disney World Resort for an entire week. Not only will she get to meet her favorite Disney characters from Frozen, Elsa and Anna, she will also get to relax and enjoy her time with her family in a private villa created for wish families and be treated like a princess.

Walking for Awareness

The Schoen Charitable Trust was able to participate at Father Carr’s 3rd Annual Bridge Walk where just over 250 people walked under the Lake Butte des Morts Bridge to raise awareness and funds for those in need of food and shelter. After the walk, we were able to tour Father Carr’s where we learned about the establishment and how they guide individuals without homes to independence.

Spa Day in a Bag

Last year, the Schoen Charitable Trust was delighted to fund Hospice of Dubuque in their spa bag project. The grant gave Hospice of Dubuque the funding to purchase quality bags as well as personal care and pampering items for each staff member to take with them when visiting their patients.

Pictured below are six certified nursing assistants from Hospice of Dubuque showcasing their spa bags

Lourdes Academy and Aquos boards make learning fun!

Members of the Schoen Family Charitable Trust board were able to visit Lourdes Academy to see first hand how their grant for Aquos boards in 2017 enhances learning. Students and teachers work interactively to make education more interesting.

Learning the power of poetry through Deej

I have always thought that poetry is autistic: it revels in patterned sound. 

- DJ Savarese (Deej)

Renowned writer and advocate for people with disabilities, Deej has created an impact through his poetry based on his own experiences on being an individual with autism who is non-speaking. Carefully crafted, each of Deej's poems powerfully expresses the intricacies of his life, leaving the reader with a sense of wonder and awe.

The Schoen Charitable Family Trust was truly honored to help sponsor Deej's event at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa on October 19, 2017. Open to the students and the community, and attended by Laura, Vicky, and Connor of The Schoen Charitable Family Trust, Deej showed his documentary and concluded with a question-answer session. 

Click here to watch a trailer for his documentary Deej. 

Click here to access Deej's website for further information about his poetry, film, and activism. 

(Left-Right) Deej, Vicky Schoen, Connor Schoen (current Loras student), and Laura Mootz

Santo Domingo to Dubuque

"Math is my favorite school subject and I like practicing with numbers," Asdelyn writes from Santo Domingo to the Schoen Family Charitable Trust. 

With the partnership of the nonprofit organization Unbound, the Schoen Family Charitable Trust has been writing back and forth with Asdelyn and other remarkable children from around the world. Unbound provides educational support to empower self-sufficiency for families who are currently living in poverty. The Schoen Family Charitable Trust is proud to be a sponsor of this impactful nonprofit for the past five years. 

Outdoor Music & Sensory Garden

Camp Albrecht Acres is in the process of creating play stations along paved trails for campers to stop and play musical instruments. Camper will get the opportunity to play and hear music, stimulating their senses of touch and sound.  As a bonus, they will get exercise while playing and walking the 2 mile path. We are thrilled that our grant will help Camp Albrecht Acres with this outstanding project.

Schoen Family Charitable Trust Visits Local Schools

The Dubuque Community School District welcomed members of the Schoen Family Charitable Trust to visit with local students and teachers. Dan Schoen and Karla Schoen represented our board and got to see the incredible impact this grant had on local schools. It was a gratifying experience for the board as we wish the school district future growth and success. 

3D Printer Towards STEM Development

Lourdes Academy of Oshkosh, Wisconsin was able to purchase a 3D printer for their new, growing Science Technology Engineering and Math program (STEM) through the Schoen Family Charitable Trust. With the help of the new 3D printer, the Lourdes Academy Middle School developed a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum where their students work hand-ons to gain true-to-life experience in STEM subjects; including computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. The board is delighted for their donation to go towards the development of STEM in secondary schools.