Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation Donates $11,500 to Appleton-Area Charities
by Gordon Flesch Company, on 10/22/2020
The Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation is proud to announce that it has awarded $84,000 to 37 organizations in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa and Illinois in 2020. This includes $12,000 to four Fox Valley, Wisconsin-area non-profit organizations so that they can continue providing services and support for members of the community in need.
GFC’s founder, Gordon Flesch, understood businesses could only thrive if the communities that surround them were also thriving. That spirit of charitable giving carries on in the form of annual contributions to non-profits located in the communities where our customers live, work and play. In all, donations exceed $2 million since the foundation’s inception in 2002.
2020 has been a difficult and trying year for people in all our communities, and the Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation has responded with more timely and targeted donations. Unlike years past, the Foundation has not confined its giving to a single period but has also donated money and volunteer efforts as emergencies arose. For example, the Foundation donated $5,000 in emergency disaster relief via the non-profit Eight Days of Hope organization to help the Cedar Rapids area recover from recent storms and $14,000 to food banks across the Midwest to help with increased demand for services as a result of COVID-19 Coronavirus.
Organizations receiving grants in 2020 include:
Building for Kids (https://www.buildingforkids.org/) designs exhibits, programs and events to inspire, teach and reinforce curiosity for children. Funds will go towards providing membership opportunities for families experiencing a time of need or crisis.
East Shore Industries (www.eastshoreindustries.com) in Algoma, Wisconsin is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities in obtaining their personal independence and employment goals. East Shore Industries hopes to give more individuals the opportunity to participate in the program and to allow for additional fitness center classes, cooking classes and art classes.
Goebel Family Foundation (https://www.goebelfamilyfoundation.org/) programs are focused on helping women and children in Northeast Wisconsin through educational and empowerment-focused learning. The organization plans to expand its reach and to pay for training expenses, crisis needs for women, marketing materials, program supplies and class space with this donation.
Harbor House (https://www.harborhousewi.org/) is committed to the awareness and prevention of domestic abuse with a crisis line, shelter and support groups. Funding will help keep those services online despite increasing demands.
Since its inception in 2002, the Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation has donated more than $2 million to various philanthropic organizations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and, beginning this year, Iowa. Each year, the foundation donates to the communities within GFC’s territories, staying true to founder Gordon Flesch’s mission to support the communities where GFC’s employees and customers live and work.
Unlike most corporate giving programs, the Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation is managed entirely by company associates. Each year associates nominate organizations close to their hearts and close to their communities. The foundation’s board of directors reviews nominations and selects award recipients.
“We are proud that the Gordon Flesch Company Foundation has been a steady and reliable presence in our communities for many years,” says Cheryl Halverson, President, of the Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation. “But given the unusual and challenging year we are facing; I am especially proud to be able to say the Foundation has also been flexible and generous in an emergency. We hope to be able to continue providing emergency assistance as well as much-needed grants for many years to come.”
“While there has been an overwhelming amount of generosity during this pandemic, we know that social services and charitable organizations are struggling to keep up with increased needs for their services,” says Jackie Shultz, Secretary of the Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation. “We are proud to be able to carry on the mission of the Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation and are humbled to play a small part in the important work these organizations perform for our communities.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation, or to apply for the next round of grants, visit our website or download our brochure.
About The Gordon Flesch Company
The Gordon Flesch Company is one of the largest independent providers of office technology solutions in the nation. Family-owned since 1956, the Gordon Flesch Company employs more than 600 people throughout 23 offices in the Midwest, with their corporate office in Madison, Wisconsin. They deliver unique business process expertise to solve challenging problems and achieve organizational goals. This includes integrating industry-leading software and hardware to build custom solutions that are supported by technical expertise, customer service and flexible, in-house financial services.
