Madison Reading Project: Launching: Wisconsin’s First All-Accessible Free Book Bus

For Immediate Release
April 24, 2024

More Information:
Rowan Childs, (608) 347-7970
Rowan@madisonreadingproject.com

1337 Greenway Cross, Suite 186
Madison, WI  53713
www.madisonreadingproject.com

Launching: Wisconsin’s First All-Accessible Free Book Bus 

Madison Reading Project’s newest book bus  – the only all-accessible free book bus in Wisconsin – launches May 18 to begin a year-round mission of bringing free literacy programs to children.

Madison Reading Project invites the community to attend the official launch, Saturday May 18, 10:30 a.m. at the Kohl Center concourse at the UW Campus, welcomed by host Wisconsin Athletics. 

Tours of both Madison Reading Project buses and other mobile partners, including Madison School and Community Recreation, local libraries, and Bucky Badger, will be featured. Plus, free books for all children attending!

“Our new book bus is ADA-compliant with wide aisles and a wheelchair lift, is fully accessible to all children, caregivers– and virtually all are welcome to climb aboard and pick books to take home,” says Rowan Childs, founder and executive director. “This vehicle joins our current one which has been on the road for more than five years.

“This model of providing books to kids at no cost and meeting them where they are at works with our partners to help raise literacy rates of youth and build home libraries while removing barriers to access,” Childs adds.

Madison Reading Project is thrilled to have the funding campaign nearly completed, with the help of corporate donors, local foundations, and individuals sponsoring the newly expanded bus program. 

Junior League of Madison has generously donated to the campaign and is offering a $50K matching grant now through the end of May to help reach the goal. To make a matching donation, visit:

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fillthebuscampaign/event/bookbuspalooza/

“A gift in any amount will help our staff and volunteers reach thousands of children with free books and literacy engagement across the greater Dane County area,” says Emily Wills, Madison Reading Project development director. “The new Reading Bus holds three times as many books as the current bus, allowing us to break last year’s record of 124,000 books given to 100,000 kids.” 

“We’re already making plans with schools, social services organizations, and our community partners to bring the new bus to schools, neighborhood centers, and community events all over Dane County,” adds Deirdre Steinmetz, programs and operations director. “We’re so grateful for the support we’ve received this far and are excited to get the bus on the road and reach more kids.”

Madison Junior League is thrilled to partner in literacy improvement efforts. “By supporting Madison Reading Project, our members are helping to inspire children to become better readers,” says Sarah Barnes, Junior League president. “We are proud to help!”

Chartered in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Madison Reading Project has given more than 500,000 books to children living in nine (9) South Central Wisconsin counties. Much of the giving is targeted to under-resourced families and children needing literacy support.

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MSCR & Madison Parks to Hold Hiring Fair

April 16, 2024

For Immediate Release

Contact: Laura Whitmore, Operations Manager, at lwhitmore@madison.k12.wi.us or 608-204-3036 or Nicole Graper, MSCR Marketing Specialist, at ngraper@madison.k12.wi.us or call 608-204-3017

MSCR & Madison Parks to Hold Hiring Fair

Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) and Madison Parks are holding a Hiring Fair on Wednesday, April 17 at Madison Parks, 330 E Lakeside Street, 4-8pm.

Stop in and learn more about the wide variety of jobs in arts and enrichment, camps, fitness, outdoor pursuits, sports, swimming and more. MSCR has a job for every interest – visit with the energetic staff and schedule an immediate interview for a position.  

MSCR has approximately 150 job openings to fill this summer.  Starting hourly wages vary $15-$18.

MSCR jobs offer leadership skills development, valuable teambuilding opportunities and recreation program management education. Build close relationships with co-workers and supervisors and have a blast teaching others the lifelong benefits of recreation. 

According to Laura Whitmore, MSCR Operations Manager,  “As part of the MSCR Team, our employees make a huge impact on the Madison community by sharing their own passions in recreation and the arts. We are proud of the fact that many people choose to work at MSCR serving our Madison community, to have fun all the while building their own skills through supported, targeted training and hands-on experience.”

To join the MSCR team, stop by the Hiring Fair on April 17 or visit mscr.org/jobs.

Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) is Madison’s public recreation provider.  MSCR offers a wide variety of athletic, recreational, arts and enrichment activities and classes for all ages in an accessible, inclusive setting.  Visit mscr.org for more information or call 608-204-3000.

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One Community Bank to Host First-Time Homebuyer Seminars

(April 2024) – One Community Bank is delighted to host a series of First-Time Homebuyer Seminars across South-Central Wisconsin this spring and summer. For those who are starting to explore the idea of home ownership, experts from OCB will provide details for each step in the home buying process and answer questions.

Read more here

WPS again named VETS Indexes 4 Star Employer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
DeAnne Boegli
Corporate Communications
608-977-7343
deanne.boegli@wpsic.com

WPS again named VETS Indexes 4 Star Employer

MADISON, Wis.—April 15, 2024—WPS Health Solutions^® has earned the designation of VETS Indexes 4 Star Employer in the 2024 VETS Indexes Employer Awards for the second year in a row. The award recognizes the company’s commitment to recruiting, hiring, retaining, developing, and supporting veterans and the military-connected community.

“Competition for the VETS Indexes Employer Awards was tougher than ever in 2024, as a record number of organizations participated,” George Altman, President of VETS Indexes, said. “Even with hundreds of employers in the running, the veterans program at WPS Health Solutions stood out from the rest. Congratulations to WPS Health Solutions on this outstanding achievement!”

“WPS is honored to earn this designation and proud to serve our nation by creating a safe and inclusive place for veterans to work after their service to our country is completed,” WPS Chief People Officer Moira Klos said. “The discipline and skillsets veterans bring to work each day make WPS a stronger company.”

This year, a record 344 organizations submitted completed surveys for the VETS Indexes Employer Awards, an increase of more than 100 from last year and nearly triple the number from two years ago. Of those, VETS Indexes recognized 285 organizations across the following award levels: 5 Star Employer, 4 Star Employer, 3 Star Employer, and Recognized Employer. Not every responding organization made the cut—only those that demonstrated a strong commitment to veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserves, and military spouses. Participating organizations included companies large and small, government agencies and departments, nonprofit groups, colleges, and universities.

About WPS Health Solutions^®

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS Health Solutions), founded in 1946, is a nationally regarded benefits administrator for a variety of U.S. government programs and a leading not-for-profit health insurer in Wisconsin. WPS Health Solutions serves active-duty and retired military personnel, seniors, individuals, and families in Wisconsin, across the U.S., and around the world. WPS Health Solutions, headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, has more than 2,600 employees. For more information, please visit wpshealthsolutions.com.

About VETS Indexes
VETS Indexes is a leading voice on veteran employment issues, overseeing the VETS Indexes Employer Awards, hosting the Employing U.S. Vets Conference, unearthing unique and unprecedented data on veteran employment through the Veteran Employment Benchmarking Service, and developing custom indexes, linked to financial products, that track the performance of the publicly traded companies that have established themselves as the best employers for veterans.

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Bank of Sun Prairie Celebrates the Power of Community by Giving Back

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 12, 2024

Contact: Jimmy Kauffman, President and CEO
608.837.4511 ● jimmy.kauffman@bankofsunprairie.com

Bank of Sun Prairie Celebrates the Power of Community by Giving Back
Wisconsin Bankers Association Power of Community Week April 15 – 20, 2024

Sun Prairie, Wis., bankofsunprairie.com ‒To celebrate the connections between local businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, and families and their hometown community bank, Bank of Sun Prairie is recognizing the Power of Community Week April 15-20, 2024, during National Community Banking Month and National Financial Literacy and Capability Month.

“We have a 126-year history in this community,” said Jimmy Kauffman, president and CEO of Bank of Sun Prairie. “It is our duty and privilege to not only give back during Power of Community Week but every week, all year long, every year.”

The purpose of Power of Community Week is to highlight the longstanding tradition of local hometown community banking and the role banks play in building strong, thriving communities.

Bank of Sun Prairie’s Power of Community Week activities include:

• Operation: Feed the Grove benefiting Cottage Grove Food Pantry sponsored by Bank of Sun Prairie. Drop off a donation item at Bank of Sun Prairie’s Cottage Grove branch, and at Dunkin’ Donuts and Grace Coffee in Cottage Grove and get a sweet treat cookie or donut in return.
• Financial Education in the High Schools: Sun Prairie East High School kicking off on April 15 – 19 with brand-new curriculum for grades 9 through 12, in partnership with Bank of Sun Prairie.
• Spring Clean Up at McKenzie Family Boys & Girls Club in Sun Prairie. Colleagues grab their gloves and rakes to spruce up the outdoor area and playground Wed., April 17.
• Love Your Library Gala, Sat., April 20 at Sun Prairie Public Library supporting the foundation as presenting sponsor.

“The Power of Community Week highlights the collective impact of Wisconsin’s banking industry,” said Rose Oswald Poels, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Bankers Association. “Bank employees tailor their efforts to the individual needs of their areas ‒ from giving financial literacy presentations in local schools to running food drives to volunteering in nursing homes ‒ it shows how passionate they are.”

Information on Power of Community Week and a map of service initiatives in Wisconsin can be found at wisbank.com/BanksPowerWI.

About Bank of Sun Prairie

Bank of Sun Prairie is a locally owned, full-service community bank with $739 million in assets and five branches in Sun Prairie and Cottage Grove, Wis. Its mission is to be trusted advisor for families, businesses and communities offering a complete range of services, while delivering fair returns for stockholders. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

About the Wisconsin Bankers Association
Founded in 1892, WBA is the state’s largest financial industry trade association, representing more than 200 commercial banks and savings institutions, their branches, and over 30,000 employees. The Association represents banks of all sizes in Wisconsin, and nearly 98 percent of banks in the state are WBA members. To learn more, please visit www.wisbank.com.

About the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation
The Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) is a Wisconsin non-profit organization dedicated to promoting financial literacy and capability to the public. WBF works to empower consumers’ financial decisions through education, scholarships, and research. (IRS Public Charity Employer Identification Number 46-3791061)    

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