Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation Donates $12,000 to Columbus-Area Charities

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 six Columbus, Ohio-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:

Dreams on Horseback (www.dreamsonhorseback.org) was founded to help people with mental and physical challenges improve their lives through horse-partnered learning experiences and education. GFC’s donation will support therapeutic riding lessons for students for a nine-week period.  

Loving Care Hospice (https://ohioshospicelovingcare.org/) not-for-profit hospices in Ohio are committed to a shared vision of strengthening and preserving community-based hospices. Among other things, this donation will help purchase Virtual Reality Goggles to give veterans a virtual Honor Flight Experience if they are too ill to otherwise participate.  

Run the Race Club (https://www.facebook.com/BrianMuhaFoundation/) is a fun, safe and productive place where young people can do their homework, get tutoring, play sports, do art, music, dance, tumbling and more.

The Bike Lady (https://bikelady.org/) started as an impromptu holiday bike-a-thon and is now a charitable organization based in Columbus, Ohio that provides new bikes, helmets and locks to children who have a history of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. We hope to fund the purchase dozens of additional bikes this year.

Bridges Community Action Partnership (http://www.bridgescap.org/) is an agency dedicated to helping and serving low-income individuals and families in Delaware, Madison, Union, Shelby, Champaign, and Logan counties with a variety of programs and assistance for utilities, home improvement, family development, work resources, safe housing, financial education and medical needs. Funding will support workshops to assist people experiencing conditions of poverty in Delaware, Union and Logan Counties.

He Who Laughs (https://hewholaughs.org/) was founded by a central Ohio mother to raise awareness for mental wellness in honor of her son. Funding would be used to assist with counseling copayments and payments for alternative therapies for those unable to afford them otherwise. 

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.