Madison, Wis.—Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates is celebrating its 50th anniversary by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations making a difference in the communities where its nine offices are located. Employees of the Madison office today awarded two Brighter Futures Grants, providing Operation Fresh Start and The River Food Pantry with $50,000 each.
Brighter Futures Grants are an extension of the philanthropy work done by Great Lakes, which is dedicated to helping more students from low-income households, students of color, and first-generation students get into and through college so they can go on to successful lives and help build strong communities. Employees at Great Lakes’ nine offices across the country were invited to engage in the Brighter Futures grantmaking process, with a broader focus on promoting lasting change in their local communities. A total of $525,000 in Brighter Futures Grants has been awarded to 14 nonprofit organizations based on the funding priorities selected by Great Lakes employees.
“Great Lakes is committed to making the communities where we live and work even greater,” said Richard D. George, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes. “In Madison, employees identified youth development and hunger as two of the most pressing issues affecting our community. Operation Fresh Start and The River Food Pantry are already doing good work, and we’re excited to help them make an even bigger impact with our Brighter Futures Grants.”
Operation Fresh Start provides job training, education and independent living skills to youth ages 16 to 24 to help them complete a high school diploma and continue to employment or postsecondary education. Operation Fresh Start will use its $50,000 grant to purchase food for program participants, nursing supplies, upgraded technology and a new van.
“This is an incredible opportunity to help fulfill crucial organizational needs, which allows us to focus on our mission, providing disconnected youth a path to self-sufficiency,” said Gregory Markle, Executive Director of Operation Fresh Start.
The River Food Pantry provides hot meals, groceries, clothing and household items to Dane County families who are struggling to make ends meet. With its $50,000 Brighter Futures Grant, The River Food Pantry will buy a cargo van to expand its MUNCH (Madison Unites to Nourish Children at Home) program.
“The River Food Pantry is honored and humbled to be awarded a Brighter Futures Grant from Great Lakes,” said Executive Director Charles McLimans. “The grant will expand our mobile lunch program into more Northside neighborhoods to feed more kids on weekends and non-school days. We can make a difference in the hunger gap and the achievement gap and give our local kids a brighter future.”
Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, Great Lakes was founded in 1967 as the Wisconsin Higher Education Corporation, an offshoot of the State of Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board. The name was changed to Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation in 1988 as the company expanded into other states. Today the Madison office employs 960 area residents, ranking as the 13th largest Dane County employer by In Business Magazine.
Reinforced by a corporate culture of supporting the community, Great Lakes employees participate in a robust employee giving program called Great Lakes Gives. Through Great Lakes Gives, they contribute to the United Way; take advantage of paid Volunteer Time Off; and regularly provide school supplies, healthy snacks and books for summer reading programs to students at their adopted schools, Gompers Elementary and Black Hawk Middle School. Brighter Futures Grants are one more way Great Lakes employees are giving back.
