Media Contact: Jessica Burda, 608-663-8974, jburda@vogelbldg.com
Local Grassroots Charity Aims to Fundraise $55,000 This Summer for Area School Children In Need
MADISON, WI – School Supplies For Kids grew out of one local neighborhood wanting to help area schoolchildren in need 19 years ago. Now in 2012, this quiet homegrown charity has set a goal of raising $55,000 this summer to help an estimated 22,000 students across all of Dane County.
A partnership of The Vogel Foundation, Vogel Bros. Building Co. and Madison Urban Ministry, Dane County School Supplies For Kids raises money to purchase school supplies for children in need through generous donations from individuals, businesses, foundations, and organizations. According to Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction statistics, Dane County’s overall school enrollment has grown by nine percent in the last five years. During that same period of time, the number of economically disadvantaged children has increased by more than 40 percent.
“The number of children in need is again projected to be up from last year,” said David Vogel, Chairman of the Board of Vogel Bros. Building Co. and Founder of School Supplies For Kids. “One way that we can help close the achievement gap in Dane County Schools is to help the economically disadvantaged kids get off to a good start. Having the necessary school supplies is a way of doing that.”
All donations are used solely for the purchase of school supplies. Shopko provides a greatly discounted rate and delivers the supplies to the sorting warehouse. Mead and Hunt volunteers donate time to sort the supplies for the individual schools, while Vogel Bros. and other area organizations provide the staff and vehicles to deliver the supplies to area schools in August. All mailings are coordinated by donated staff in kind by Vogel Bros., and the partnership with Madison Urban Ministry allows School Supplies For Kids to procure the supplies with tax-exempt status and donations are tax deductable.
“Please join us in investing in our future and the country’s future by helping support these kids,” Vogel added. “We’ve set a goal of raising $55,000 by August 1. I encourage the greater Madison and Dane County communities to help us reach this important goal this summer.”
School Supplies For Kids welcomes donations both online and by check. You can learn more at http://vogelbldg.com/community/school_supplies_for_kids.php. Fans can also like School Supplies For Kids on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SchoolSuppliesForKids.
For media requests, please call Jessica Burda at 608-663-8974 or via email at jburda@vogelbldg.com.
