Pictured, left to right: Lenny Behnke, Blackhawk Advancement Assistant; Aaron Manogue, Gordon Flesch Marketing Specialist; Lisa Hurda, Director of Advancement & Foundation; Dr. Tracy Pierner, President of Blackhawk; Kelly Willoughby, Gordon Flesch Sales Manager
The Blackhawk Technical College Foundation has received a $5,000 grant from the Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation to be used for the Foundation’s Coins for Caring program, which provides emergency funding to students who find themselves in financial hardship.
“The Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation strives to enrich lives through local community organizations that assist people of all age levels with disabilities, illness, hardship or disasters. After learning more about the Blackhawk Technical College Foundation Coins for Caring program, we knew it was a great fit for our mission,” said Aaron Manogue, Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation representative.
The Gordon Flesch Company has long engaged in charitable giving, and following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the company’s philanthropic work became more formal and enduring.
“This donation will impact the lives of many Blackhawk students who face financial challenges, and we are so grateful to the Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation for assisting us in helping students who encounter emergencies that may threaten their academic success due to the inability to cover basic or educational needs,” said Lisa Hurda, Director of Advancement & Foundation.
The Coins for Caring program, which was started in 2011, provides students who demonstrate need up to $100 in assistance once per semester. The emergency awards often are the difference in keeping students enrolled. In the 2021-2022 academic year, the Foundation awarded $7,525 to 79 students. The greatest need was money for transportation and food.