Together
2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
We Make A Difference
We all share one thing in common:
we care.
Fellow Great Lakes employees, Our fourth year of Great Lakes Gives is in the books, and what a year it was! Participation and donations were at an all-time high, and we helped more students at our adopted schools than ever before. The secret behind the enormous success of Great Lakes Gives is simple: You and your coworkers care about your community, and you jump at opportunities to give something back. The Great Lakes family is a generous bunch.
Stephanie Hayden Madison, WI
“Each of us has a unique set of reasons for giving, but we share a common understanding that we’re all in this together, and that everybody benefits when we extend a hand to those in need.”
In this report we celebrate that generosity and explore the various reasons we choose to give. Many of us have been inspired to contribute by our own life experiences. Others simply believe that “paying it forward” is the right thing to do. I want to thank everyone who donated and played a role in the Great Lakes Gives program this year. Together we are making a real difference in people’s lives! I also want to thank those who shared their stories, and to let others know that I want to hear your stories as well. I also welcome your ideas about how we can make Great Lakes Gives even more effective. Feel free to contact me or the Ambassadors at your center with suggestions. Sincerely,
Employee Giving Manager
GREAT LAKES GIVES 2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
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“I can tell we make a difference by the on the students’ faces.”
smiles
Bill Kapke Eau Claire, WI
FALL SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE
So students have less to worry about Every student has a lot to be anxious about on the first day of school. Now imagine being a student sitting down to an empty desk in your new classroom, without the supplies everybody else has. Instead of enjoying the excitement of a new year, you’re feeling self-conscious and worrying about what your peers think of you. The experience can affect both your self-esteem and your learning.
“My family was on a tight budget when I was younger so I remember the anxiety of not having everything I needed on the first day. I can relate to how these students might be feeling.” Unfortunately, it’s a situation many students at our adopted schools find themselves in, and one some of our employees remember all too well from their own childhoods.
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GREAT LAKES GIVES 2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
Jennifer Sauerwein of Aberdeen recalls, “My family was on a tight budget when I was younger so I remember the anxiety of not having everything I needed on the first day. I can relate to how these students might be feeling.” That’s one of the reasons Jennifer donates school supplies each fall. “Now that I can help students, I do!” Jo Gallardo in Eagan remembers being a parent in need. “I was a single mom and it was tough to provide everything for my kids. I know what’s it’s like to need a helping hand and how much a small gesture like donating school supplies can mean for a family. Having lived it is why I give now—to pay it forward and do my part.” The good news is that our donations do make a difference. As Becky Backous of Aberdeen said, “It’s nice knowing my donation helps alleviate stress on these kids so they can focus on learning!”
Jo Gallardo Eagan, MN
UNITE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
To double the impact of our giving What do you call a fundraising campaign that takes every dollar raised and doubles it? We call it Unite for Our Communities, our biggest giving event of the year. Every dollar employees contribute to our United Way campaign is matched by a Great Lakes donation to our adopted schools. Last year, those schools received over $118,000 through this matching program.
“It’s great to see how this campaign has developed over the years, and whether you have time or money to give, or both, I find it incredibly fulfilling to participate.” So your United Way contribution did double duty. Through United Way, it supported many organizations working to improve lives in the communities where we live and work. And then via the Great Lakes match, it helped our schools buy things they needed 6
GREAT LAKES GIVES 2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
Georgia Morgan | Madison, WI
to enhance learning, like books, audio-visual equipment and classroom furniture. During the campaign, each center is a whirlwind of activity, with something for everybody to do. Georgia Morgan of Madison, a United Way supporter for 29 years, said, “It’s great to see how this campaign has developed over the years, and whether you have time or money to give, or both, I find it incredibly fulfilling to participate.”
“It made me feel like someone was rooting for me and wanted me to succeed.” Alex Jacobo-Ramos of Madison understands the difference the Great Lakes school match can make in a child’s life. Growing up in Mexico,
Serena Landowski | Stevens Point, WI Alex attended a school that struggled to provide necessary resources for its students. He vividly remembers how a local business contributed the money to buy new computers for his school. “It made me feel like someone was rooting for me and wanted me to succeed. I think this is exactly how the students at our adopted schools feel—we are encouraging them to do well. Knowing that our United Way donations are matched and we can help students is why I get involved.” Serena Landowski from Stevens Point agreed. “It really gives students a positive outlook on life when they know we are there to support them. I like that this campaign benefits students as well as local organizations working to make lives better. It’s important for me to be part of this.”
Alex Jacobo-Ramos | Madison, WI
GREAT LAKES GIVES 2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
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PEN PAL PROGRAM
Because connecting with adults builds student confidence After two successful years, we expanded our Pen Pen program for its third year. The expansion gave employees who work at home the opportunity to participate for the first time, and their response was terrific. These new pen pals were partnered with a student at the Rocky Hill center’s partner school, John Barry Elementary. The pen pals wrote letters to each other once a month. It was a rewarding experience for both the students and their adult pen pals from Great Lakes. Ben Dobner, Director of Education Grantmaking, offered his perspective: “With our traditional philanthropy, we are often quite removed from the students our grants serve. I like that when an employee chooses to be a pen pal, they are able to interact with a student. Making that connection is important to me and why I got involved.”
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GREAT LAKES GIVES 2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
Ben, who lives in Milwaukee, notes that those kinds of connections are especially important for employees who work at home. He said, “You can feel isolated being a remote employee, but being a pen pal is a great opportunity to contribute to Great Lakes Gives and help a student academically. I think there was a perception that being a remote employee prevented you from being involved. This changes everything. It’s so well structured and easy to participate.”
“It was everything I hoped it would be and more.” Florida-based Becky Davis agreed. “I often felt left out. When I learned I could be a pen pal, I jumped at the chance. And I’m glad I did. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. I always looked forward to my pen pal’s letter, and it was rewarding to see her confidence and communication skills grow through her writing.”
Ben Dobner Milwaukee, WI
WINTER SNACK DRIVE
So students can focus on learning instead of a rumbling stomach Many of the students attending our adopted schools come from low-income families. At one school, the rate is as high as 90 percent. Kids who grow up in poverty often come to school hungry, which can lead to problems with both learning and behavior. It’s hard to stay focused on your school work when your stomach is empty. The snacks we donate during the Winter Snack Drive help students overcome these obstacles so they’re ready to learn when they’re at school. That’s a goal Great Lakes employees can get behind. Eric Ritchie in Eau Claire has seen the need first-hand. “I have three kids attending Lakeshore Elementary. One day I noticed my daughter sneaking extra snacks to take to school. When I asked her about it, she said, ‘it’s for my friend who doesn’t have food.’ It reminded me that not everyone is as fortunate and that I need to give back—that’s what community is all about. Every child deserves a chance!”
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GREAT LAKES GIVES 2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
In Rocky Hill, Dan Fox and Bruce Weiner helped deliver snacks, and saw how important they were to students. Dan remembers, “It was rewarding to be part of the solution to helping these kids in need.” Bruce added, “It was a feel-good moment and I realized it was a win for me as much as it was for the students I was helping.”
“It was a feel-good moment and I realized it was a win for me as much as it was for the students I was helping.” For Cyndi Schmitz in Eagan, it’s an emotional act. “These kids pull on my heart strings when I think about the fact that the only meal they might get is at school. It’s easy for me to forgo a snack at home and give it to kids who need it. It’s amazing that something so small can make such a big difference.”
Eric Ritchie | Eau Claire, WI
Bruce Weiner | Rocky Hill, CT
Dan Fox | Rocky Hill, CT
Cyndi Schmitz | Eagan, MN
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BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
Because “clipping” is an easy way to give back Sometimes a little competition helps spark our spirit of generosity. When it comes to collecting Box Tops, the Stevens Point center has set the bar high. They even pioneered the idea of creating a tournament based on March Madness, the annual NCAA basketball tournament. The result is a friendly bracketed contest called Box Tops Madness. That fun contest has helped them collect 28,597 Box Tops in three years. It’s been so successful that the Plano center began to use it this year, with teams competing for an awesome championship prize: an ice cream social.
“... I learned how passionate this community is about helping.” But the real winners when we collect Box Tops are our adopted schools. They use the extra cash the Box Tops bring in to pay for supplies, field trips and other items their budgets are stretched too thin to afford. Thanks to the Plano competition and the
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GREAT LAKES GIVES 2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
1,695 Box Tops they collected, Rainwater Elementary has a little extra money to spend on students. That spirit of giving is infectious. “It was amazing to see everyone get involved,” said team captain Elisabeth Kent. “When I moved from Eagan to Plano, I had a couple of financial setbacks, and I learned how passionate this community is about helping. Now that I’m back on my feet, of course I’m giving back.” Diana Brockington, another Plano team captain shares, “I was driven to compete against my sister [and coworker], Amy Durrett, but what really drives me is remembering what it was like to struggle when we were younger. That’s why I’m so passionate about helping whatever way I can. These kids have endless potential and I think it’s important to support that!”
Diana Brockington Plano, TX
SUMMER BOOK DRIVE
To keep students moving forward academically Without books to read over the summer, students can lose two to three months of reading skill progress each year. This “summer slide” can be devastating, and often hits low-income students the hardest. Over time students can find themselves two to three years behind if they don’t get a little help between school years.
“Anything we can do to make learning more fun is important.” Great Lakes employees had a lot to say about the importance of keeping kids reading during the summer. “By providing students with books, we keep them both entertained and engaged in learning during the summer,” said Tanya Sriver of Indianapolis. “When the kids return to the classroom in the fall, they will be ready to go. The book drive is a wonderful way to help.”
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GREAT LAKES GIVES 2016-2017 YEAR IN REVIEW
“The book drive is our center’s first experience with Great Lakes Gives,” Shelley Dishroon of Indianapolis said. “It’s gratifying to know that Great Lakes cares about the local community. It reinforces what I learned growing up when my parents took in foster kids, and it’s the reason I help: the little things we do can be the ‘sunshine’ that gives them hope.” Heather Copus of Boscobel sees that hope on the kids’ faces. “The expressions are priceless. It’s so rewarding to see their appreciation for the books they receive. If everyone could see those smiles it would melt their heart.” “Anything we can do to make learning more fun is important,” said Nick Spadafore of Boscobel. “I hated summer reading as a kid, so I believe it starts by making enjoyable books more accessible; that goes a long way toward getting kids to read.”
Nick Spadafore Boscobel, WI
39,350 Supplies
Fall School Supplies Drive When we donate supplies, we’re not only giving students the tools they need to be successful in school— we’re putting them on a path toward a promising future.
21,659 Supplies
By corresponding with students at our adopted schools as pen pals, we can make a difference in their lives and help them improve their penmanship, reading and writing skills.
26,571 Supplies
4,115 Supplies
2013
2014
2015
Pen Pal Program
2016
Year after year we’ to help our ado Unite for Our Communities
Winter Snack Drive
Every dollar contributed to our United Way campaign to make lasting change in our communities is matched with a donation to our adopted schools.
Snack donations are the fuel that keeps hungry students rolling along on the path toward success in school.
$107,770
$113,721
$118,090
$92,146
2013
2014
2015
2016
504 Pen Pals
Summer Book Drive Donations of new and used books help students avoid the “summer slide” and continue building critical reading skills between grades.
300 Pen Pals
8,224 Books
5,690 Books
3,182 Books
145 Pen Pals
2014-15
7,670 Books
2015-16
2016-17
2014
2015
2016
2017
’ve come together opted schools! 76,963 Snacks
®
Without spending an additional penny, clipping Box Tops can generate valuable funding to help our adopted schools meet their needs.
54,554 Snacks
48,322 Snacks
Box Tops For Education
38,351 Snacks
27,641 Box Tops
15,804 Box Tops
13,264 Box Tops
2014
2015
2016
2017
2014
2015
2016
BEHIND-THE-SCENES HEROES It takes a lot of people to keep things running smoothly and help spread the word about the good work we do in our local communities. Our Great Lakes Gives Ambassadors lead the way, wearing many hats in the eight hours of company time they spend working on the program each month. From their behind-thescenes planning and organizing to their event promotion in front of employees, our adopted schools and local media, Ambassadors are vital to the program’s success.
They’re also always looking for ways to improve Great Lakes Gives. If you have any suggestions for making participation more rewarding for employees and more beneficial for students at our adopted schools, send an email to
GreatLakesGives@glhec.org
AMBASSADORS ABERDEEN Jennifer Hansen James Haugen BOSCOBEL Dana DeVary Nick Rauch EAGAN Nick Anderson Carrie Hansen Vanessa Holden
EAU CLAIRE Sara Johnson Gwen Nemitz David Walberg INDIANAPOLIS Karen Curtis Beverly Smith MADISON Alyssa Dunsirn JoAnn Stewart Stephanie Well Ryan Wendel
PLANO Estevon Rincon Amy Durrett ROCKY HILL Jasmin Beeney Kevin Sauer STEVENS POINT Jennifer Glad Ashley Mansavage
EMPLOYEE GIVING MANAGER
PROGRAM ASSISTANT
Stephanie Hayden
Kristi Looze
for making a difference!
Š2017 Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates. All rights reserved. 4558 (06/17)