The Foundation for Madison's Public Schools (FMPS) has named Madison native Martha Vukelich-Austin to be its new President/CEO, succeeding Jodi Bender Sweeney. Vukelich-Austin brings to the Foundation extensive volunteer experience on nonprofit boards, a wide-ranging web of relationships with civic-minded people throughout our community, and fundraising successes that include Planned Parenthood's $1.95 million campaign and West High's 75th Anniversary celebration.

Vukelich-Austin and her husband, Overture Foundation President George Austin, have raised four children who, like their mom, all came up through the public schools and graduated from West. She has been extremely active in her kids' education, volunteering in the classroom, on committees, and with alumni efforts.

Vukelich-Austin also knows the Foundation well, having served on its Grants Committee and board for the past three years and serving on the trustee board of the Madison Community Foundation, FMPS' sister organization. "This new role gives me the chance to focus my professional efforts on my personal passion, the Madison schools," Vukelich-Austin said. "The past 16 years I spent supporting the schools has been a great training ground for my new position as President of the Foundation."

Vukelich-Austin expressed appreciation for the strong base that she inherits as she begins guiding the Foundation through its next stages of development. She specifically cited the $4 million raised by the Foundation in its first 6 years and the $350,000 in grants that it has made to the schools, along with its successful drive to establish an endowment fund for each of our schools, and its relationship-building initiatives like the annual "Principal for a Day Program" and "Adopt-A-School."

"The schools are the heartbeat of our community," said Vukelich-Austin. "If the schools are thriving, the community is thriving. Whether it is for our child, our neighbor's child or the child across town, it is important to provide the resources that our schools need to give them the education they deserve."

Vukelich-Austin invites MMSD staff and community members to contact her at 232-7820 or mvaustin@mailbag.com with questions, comments and ideas about the Foundation.