Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Detroit Waldorf School
Legal Name (if Different): Waldorf School Association of Michigan
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 2555 Burns
City: Detroit
State: MI
Postal Code: 48214
Main Phone: 313-822-0300
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.detroitwaldorf.org/
Employer ID Number: 38-1790921
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: March 31, 2022
Requested Amount: $4,100

Project Title: Director of Development
Project Description:

Detroit Waldorf School (DWS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit independent school in Detroit, Michigan whose mission is to provide Pre-K-8th grade Waldorf education to a diverse student body in Detroit. Annually, DWS serves approximately 250 students, 65% residing in Detroit and 35% from surrounding Southeast Michigan communities. Since 1966, DWS has educated more than 12,000 students and has been a leader in fostering the development of moral and self-confident individuals who go on to lead meaningful lives.

DWS is requesting a grant of $4,100 from The Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation for our handwork program. Our robust handwork curriculum benefits all students (PreK-8th grade) and includes knitting, crocheting, embroidery, fine hand sewing, felting, paper crafts, pattern design, machine sewing, and woodworking. Handwork brings balance between intellectual and movement activities, allowing students to experience the struggle, joy, and care required in the creative process. The rhythmic repetition of knitting and crocheting strengthens a child’s concentration and hand-eye coordination. It also enhances math skills through counting rows and stitches, measuring out patterns, and creating three-dimensional items. Children learn to fix their mistakes and value quality, utility, and hard work. The joy of accomplishment as the children complete increasingly difficult tasks in small steps, creates the self-confidence necessary to tackle much larger tasks in their future academic and professional lives.

A grant from the Foundation will help DWS strengthen our rich handwork curriculum for over 250 students and two dedicated handwork teachers. Requested funds would specifically be used to support handwork materials. DWS expects to achieve the following outcomes for our handwork programming in 2022: 1) provide an immersive handwork curriculum for over 250 students, 2) support DWS’s two handwork teachers with their instruction, and 3) offer students at least three new handwork activities/opportunities.

Total Project Budget: $5,100

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): $1,000 committed from Title Funding

Project Duration: January – June 2023
Geographical Area Served: Detroit
Age Group To Be Served: Students aged 3-14 (PreK-8th grade)

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Miss
Contact First Name: Rachel
Contact Last Name: Ornstein
Contact Title: Director of Development
Contact Phone: 313-822-0300
Contact Email: rachelornstein@detroitwaldorf.org