Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation Donates $12,000 to Milwaukee-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 Milwaukee-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:

Food Pantry of Waukesha County (https://www.waukeshafoodpantry.org/) serves meals and donated food to Waukesha County children, elderly, working but underemployed, disabled or temporarily unemployed residents. The pantry plans to purchase additional supplies and medicines to deal with increased coronavirus-related needs. 

Exodus House (http://www.exodus-house.com/) is a Residential Treatment Facility that counsels and treats adult men struggling with alcohol and drug addiction and to equips them to transition to a happy and productive future. Funds will help repair flooding and water damage and to make the house more energy efficient.

Friendship Circle (https://www.fcwi.org/) programs give people with special needs the support, friendship and inclusion they need to thrive independently. The funding they receive will all go into the Employee Training Program.

Zachariah's Acres (www.zachariahsacres.org) mission is to connect children with special needs to nature through outdoor activities. Donations will allow low income schools to come out at least four times a year to experience Zachariah’s Acres in each of our seasons.

Exploit No More (http://www.exploitnomore.org/) is a non-profit serving the greater Milwaukee area dedicated to ending child sex trafficking. The organization plans to use donations to increase awareness of trafficking in the community.

Safe & Sound (safesound.org) works on initiatives that help connect residents, youth, law enforcement and community resources to build safe and empowered neighborhoods. Funds will go towards the Youth Program Organizers.

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.