Category: News

  • American Family Insurance: 2023 AmFam Champ raises more than $2.4 million; highest charitable impact in event history

    Families and Schools Together, Inc. is honored to be a recipient of a $2500 grant from the American Family Insurance Steve Stricker Foundation and one of the organizations highlighted in the official press release, published Dec. 20, 2023. Read more: https://newsroom.amfam.com/2023-amfam-champ-raises-more-than-24-million-highest-charitable-impact-in-event-history/ READ MORE →


  • Newsletter – October 2023

    Subscribe to FAST community emails or view this email in Mailchimp. Dear friend, It’s been a busy year! As we enter the last quarter of 2023, we wanted to catch you up on some of the goings-on in the FAST community and hope this message finds you well. This school year begins the second year of… READ MORE →


  • Preparing, supporting, and training educators to engage families with the FAST Institute

    “Is anyone else in here trained as a teacher?” Dr. Robyn Sperling, former school teacher and current Director of Research and Innovation at Families & Schools Together, asked at the 2019 FAST Training of Trainers conference. She counted the hands raised in response to her question before following up with another: Did any of you… READ MORE →


  • Families & Schools Together introduces new Executive Director/CEO

    We are pleased to welcome Dr. Nicole Lopez Purkapile, Ed.D., as the new Executive Director/CEO of Families and Schools Together, Inc. (FAST). Nicole has more than 20 years of professional experience in the nonprofit sector, on top of years of being an educator within early childhood programs. She brings a collaborative leadership style, commitment and… READ MORE →


  • Families & Schools Together applauds Evers’ renewed investment

    Says it reflects parents across the state who are asking for more of the expert family engagement program Madison, Wis., Feb. 15, 2023 — Toni Rivera, Executive Director of Families and Schools Together, Inc. (FAST), offered thanks for the Governor’s increased investment in his recently announced biennial budget. “Thank you to Governor Evers and his administration. This… READ MORE →


  • Families & Schools Together Executive Director recognized by Titan 100

    Announcing the recipients of the 2023 Wisconsin Titan 100 Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce Toni Rivera, executive director of Families & Schools Together, as a 2023 Wisconsin Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Wisconsin’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives. They are the area’s most accomplished business leaders… READ MORE →


  • Goodman Community Center: Life in the ‘FAST’ Lane

    The Goodman Community Center featured the FAST® Program in their blog post: Life in the ‘FAST’ Lane: Families and Schools Together helps parents build a community of support and connect with their kids” by Amie Hoag, published on Sept. 6, 2022. Check it out! READ MORE →


  • Czech Republic becomes 22nd country to implement the FAST Program

    Families & Schools Together is celebrating our Czech Republic partners and recognizing their incredible hard work after the conclusion of the first two program cycles in the country – a goal that has been a long time coming. In fact, this partnership traces back to 2015, when Richard Kořínek first experienced FAST while a Fulbright… READ MORE →


  • Wisconsin’s “Get Kids Ahead Initiative:” Support your school’s mental health plan with FAST

    Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Superintendent Jill Underly recently announced the Get Kids Ahead Initiative: one-time funding available to all Wisconsin public and independent charter schools to bolster student and staff mental health. Their joint letter is copied below. We are excited to share that all public and independent charter schools will soon have access to increased funding to help… READ MORE →


  • Families & Schools Together among 10 organizations selected by the Carnegie Corporation for grant

    Carnegie Corporation of New York Names 10 Grant Recipients to Support Family Engagement Programs Philanthropic funding will advance new strategies to provide equitable learning for all students  March 8, 2022 — New York, NY — Building on its longstanding support for family engagement and home-school partnerships, Carnegie Corporation of New York today announced 10 grants to nonprofit… READ MORE →