"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."
— Henry B. Adams

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
— William Butler Yeats

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
— Albert Einstein

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
— Nelson Mandela

"Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another."
— G.K. Chesterton

 

What We Do

Golden Apple Foundation is a volunteer-driven organization that celebrates, inspires and supports educational excellence in our community. Local founders, Don Zimmerman and Dr. Richard Novak, took a common passion for education and turned it into a collective community effort by mobilizing volunteers to recognize excellence in teaching.

Since 1997, the Golden Apple Foundation has grown from honoring teachers in one school district to honoring teachers, principals and volunteers in more than 150 schools, both public and non-public, in Winnebago and Boone counties.

Today, the Golden Apple Foundation continues its mission of inspiring, celebrating and supporting educational excellence in our community through four core programs: Awards & Recognition, Teacher Academy, Classroom Grants and Community Engagement.

The Foundation operates on the generous financial support of community businesses and individuals, as well as the more than 400 volunteers that donate their time and effort to make these programs successful each year.

Celebrating Excellence…Through the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition Award Program, Outstanding Principal Award and Volunteer Recognition Awards the Golden Apple Foundation recognizes influential citizens throughout Winnebago and Boone Counties.

Inspiring Excellence…Through the planting of college aspiration seeds through the "I Know I Can" program and through the Golden Apple Teacher Academy.

Supporting Excellence...Through Golden Apple Foundation’s Classroom Project grants and Community Educational initiatives enhance the collaborative partnership between teachers, community volunteers and local businesses in order to strengthen our communities educational system.