Holland AM Rotary donates $5K from 5K to Ready For School
HOLLAND, Mich. (June 12, 2013) – At its regular weekly meeting on Wednesday (June 12, 2013) the Holland AM Rotary Club announced a $5,000 donation to Ready For School.
“This generous donation will help us engage and inform more families on their role as their child’s first and most important teacher,” said Colleen Hill, Ready For School development director.
Ready For School is a Holland-Zeeland community initiative dedicated to ensuring that every child enters kindergarten prepared to succeed.
Holland AM Rotary raised money for the donation through its annual PNC Bank Holland AM Rotary Snowmelt Shuffle 5K run/walk in February.
“In past years we have divided proceeds from the race between several local charities,” said club president-elect Kathy Burmeister. “This year, the board decided to concentrate on a single non-profit in the community. We chose Ready For School because education is a high priority for Rotary and because Ready For School is a highly effective organization.”
According to Holland AM Rotary club member and Holland Public Schools spokesman Tom Page, the impact of Ready for School is clear.
“Our kindergarten teachers can tell when children have been through a Ready For School program like Kinder Camp,” Page said. “They know how to line up, they know how to get trays for lunch. And I’m sure teachers in other districts notice the same thing.”
Hill said the donation from Holland AM Rotary is significant because it represents evidence that Ready For School is a community-supported effort that targets children and families who need help most.
“It takes the entire community coming around this issue,” Hill said. “As a community, when we’re investing in these children, we know that we’re ultimately impacting the outcome in the long haul. Every dollar is making a huge difference.”
Holland AM Rotary Club belongs to the global association Rotary International. Holland AM Rotary meets each Wednesday from 7:17 a.m. to 8:17 a.m. at Holland New Tech School, 36 E. 24th St. For information on Holland AM Rotary, visit hollandamrotary.org or see the club’s Facebook page.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured left to right are Kevin Phillips, PNC Commercial Banking and Holland AM Rotary Club member; Colleen Hill, Ready For School development director; and Kathy Burmeister, Holland AM Rotary Club president-elect. Holland AM Rotary on Wednesday (June 12, 2013) announced a $5,000 donation to Ready For School. The money was raised during the club’s annual PNC Snowmelt Shuffle in February.