Huegel Elementary School Participatory Budgeting
Let’s raise MORE THAN $2,000 for Huegel!

In the 2021-2022 school year, Ray W. Huegel Elementary School in Madison, WI produced its first ever Participatory Budgeting program. With a $1500 program budget, Huegel scholars chose to plant a tree, purchase soccer nets, and even get some fidget toys and classroom rewards.
Watch this AWESOME video to see just how much one Huegel scholar enjoyed the program.
Huegel is now starting its second Participatory Budgeting program. The initial budget is $600:
- $500 from the FirstRoot School Fund
- $100 from a parent who cares about Huegel
The goal of this fundraising campaign is to get at least $2000 into the hands of Huegel Scholars.
Let’s do even more. Let’s get more money into the hands of Huegel schools.
The program is being managed by the amazing duo of Iris Patterson and Dominique Lark. Check out how Iris describes the power of Participatory Budgeting in this video.
In their first Participatory Budgeting cycle the 5th grade scholars at Huegel were given $1,500 ($1,000 from FirstRoot and $500 from a generous parent). They used the money to purchase plant a tree, purchase soccer nets, and even get some fidget toys and classroom rewards.
We’re honored that Ms. Paterson, who led the first PB program at Huegel, is once again leading this second program.
Sponsoring the Participatory Budgeting program helps students:
- Experience democracy in action by them with concrete evidence of the benefits of voting and getting involved!
- Engage in all aspects of design thinking as they create, refine, vote, and fund proposals
- Strengthen the school community by creating alignment and positive interactions among all stakeholders: students, teachers, parents, and administrators
- Create self-confidence and civic pride as their proposals are implemented
- Develop financial literacy skills, including budgeting and financial planning
You should know this about your contribution:
- While FirstRoot will manage the funds, Huegel scholars will determine how the funds are spent.
- Contributions are not tax deductible.
- Contributions are not refundable.
- Stripe charges a small processing fee to manage transactions.
- If the program is cancelled your contribution will be applied to a different school.
- Unless you tell us otherwise, we may list your name as a contributor and the amount you contributed.