Dairyland’s partner school, Hintgen Elementary, will benefit from a $2,000 combined donation from Dairyland and President & CEO Brent Ridge. Dairyland donated $1,000 in support of Hintgen’s schoolwide snack fund; Ridge and his wife, Lisa, personally provided a matching contribution for a total of $2,000. (Photo: Two local leaders making our community a better place to live: Hintgen Elementary School Principal Amy Oliver and Dairyland President & CEO Brent Ridge.)
“The generosity of Dairyland Power is amazing for us here at Hintgen,” said Principal Amy Oliver. “This donation will help to ensure ongoing free snacks to all students here at school this year. Thank you for making a real difference to our students!”
Nearly 70 percent of Hintgen’s students qualify for Free and Reduced meals, due to their household income level. (The state average is 42% per school.) Based on the needs of the student population, Hintgen also qualifies as a “certified free school” for breakfast and lunch. However, students also need a daily snack, which carries an annual cost of over $13,000 for the school. To offset costs, Principal Oliver seeks donations and writes grants to ensure students are able to receive a nutritious snack during the day. “Dairyland was our first donor supporting schoolwide snacks,” noted Principal Oliver.
“Dairyland’s partnership with our neighborhood school allows us to put cooperative principles in action by supporting education and quality of life for local families," said Ridge. “Our donation will help students power through their school days and we hope to grow the collaboration with energy education opportunities in the classroom.”
Earlier this fall, Dairyland helped kick off the school year at Hintgen with a special delivery for students and teachers on the first day of school. All students received Dairyland and Hintgen-branded water bottles and teachers were celebrated with gift cards to a local coffee shop and cookies.
Dairyland collaborates with the La Crosse Public Education Foundation on its Adopt-a-School program as Hintgen Elementary’s partner. The Adopt-a-School program matches businesses and community organizations to specific schools in La Crosse.