By Gene Kemmeter

STEVENS POINT — The Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association (SPARTA) has named one of its scholarships in honor of Elbert and Hulda Rackow. The first recipient of the scholarship in their name will be announced in spring.

Part of the profits from the semi-annual book sales are donated to the SPARTA scholarship endowment fund through the Central Wisconsin Community Foundation with SPARTA awarding two scholarships each year.

Elbert along with SPARTA members, began book sales in the fall of 1990. He was the chairperson of the semi-annual book sales until 2013 and continues on the committee today. Before SPARTA had space for storage, he and Hulda also did home sales, with profits going to SPARTA projects. Elbert was also the president of SPARTA from 1991 to 2012.

Elbert’s goal is to make books accessible to everyone and to recycle worn books to make new books while raising money for community projects. Elbert and Hulda have circulated thousands of books and raised thousands of dollars in that endeavor.

Profits from the spring and fall book sales are also awarded in grants to Portage County non-profit organizations that directly impact student’s lives, education and seniors. Grants from the 2017-18 sales were recently awarded to the following organizations:

Wisconsin Academic Decathlon

ADRC-Lincoln Center Gay Nineties Luncheon

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Wisconsin

Boys & Girls Club of Portage County

Center Point Sweet Adelines

Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum

Central Wisconsin Symphony

Friends of 2713 (train)

Lettie W. Jensen Library – Friends of the Library

The Holly Shoppe

Learn for Life Program – United Way

Literacy for Little Ones

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration

Meals on Wheels of Stevens Point

Monteverdi Master Chorale

NAMI of Portage/Wood Counties

Operation Bootstrap

Portage County Alliance for Youth

Pacelli Catholic Schools – Project Graduation

Portage County Home & Community Education (HCE)

Portage County Cultural Festival

Portage County Historical Society

Humane Society of Portage County

Portage County Literacy Council

Project Fresh Clothes

Reading First! Of Portage County

Stevens Point Barbershoppers

Stevens Point Sculpture Park

Stevens Point YMCA

Washington Trip – PJ Jacobs Junior High School

Washington Trip – Ben Franklin Junior High School

Wis./Nicaragua Partners of the Americas

The Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers’ Association (SPARTA) would like to thank everyone that donated to or purchased books at the October book sale.

The next SPARTA book sale will be Wednesday, May 1, 2019 to Saturday, May 4, 2019 at the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum Building, 1100 Main St., Stevens Point. Take-in days remain the fourth Monday of the month excluding December, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For questions call Nancy at 715-344-2598.