In late July, Porter Corp kicked off a fundraiser to benefit Ready For School, a local non-profit agency dedicated to child wellness and school readiness.
In 2008, the community adopted early literacy screening. The results showed that fewer than half of the children in the community were ready for school when they entered kindergarten at age five. Ready For School was launched in response to the critical need for early intervention.
Ready For School prepares children up to five years old for success in kindergarten by equipping parents and families through the integrated support of the Holland, Zeeland, and Hamilton communities. The program has been very successful, and by 2016, 63 percent of the children in the community were deemed ready for school.
In addition to preparing children for the classroom, the organization links parents with resources needed to raise healthy children. Resources include referrals to specialists who can identify developmental delays and disabilities. They also provide access to food distribution centers for those in need.
Porter employees made donations via payroll deduction, and many employees bought back to school items including pencils, crayons, and backpacks. The campaign raised $1,192 for Ready for School.
Prior to school starting, Ready For School held an event for the children to distribute the donations. Brianna Lynn, Project and Community Investment Coordinator at Ready for School, expressed her thanks for Porter Corp’s generosity. “We were able to provide school supplies to over 100 children with your help. That's amazing! It was an incredible day of giving,” said Lynn.
