Through our partnerships, volunteer programs and donation efforts, we are committed to making a positive impact where we live and work. Every year, LocknCharge partners with nonprofits while promoting volunteer time off for our employees. Here are four ways we gave back to our communities in 2019 through innovative programs that strengthen the communities that have supported us.

Clearing the Lists

A recent Department of Education survey found that around 94% of public-school teachers spend their own money on much-needed supplies due to nationwide K-12 funding cuts.[1] Come back-to-school time, as teachers prepare for the year ahead, they find themselves in need of everything from chalk to science materials. That’s why one elementary school teacher in Texas created #ClearTheLists, a social media campaign intended to raise the visibility of educator’s classroom wishlists. Knowing that every little bit helps, LocknCharge donated much-needed gifts that give back, including science and technology-related educational items impacting a total of seventeen schools in Wisconsin and Texas. We were overwhelmed by the response, especially when we received this heartfelt message from Mrs. Richards, a third-grade teacher in Wisconsin.

Adopting a School, so it Shines Brighter

The Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools offers a program to take our passion for education beyond local teachers and classroom supplies. We take great pride in the opportunity we’ve been given to help an entire school shine a little brighter with our Sennett Middle School Adopt-a-School partnership.

One of the rewarding ways LocknCharge engages with its adopted school is through a program called the “Principal Experience.” All schools rely on local expertise and the community coming together to meet the needs of students. The “Principal Experience” gives community members a look inside Madison schools by shadowing a principal for a morning and discussing what they saw and learned over lunch with their fellow “principal partners.” LocknCharge Channel Manager Kyle Jacobson volunteered to experience what it’s like to be the principal of Sennett. “This school setting is a lot different than I remember school settings,” said Kyle. “it’s important to really see firsthand what life is like there.”

Here are just a few other examples of how LocknCharge gives a boost to the Sennett Stars:

• When the school’s fabulous IT department needed a place to meet during the summer, we were happy to host at our corporate headquarters in Madison.
• We worked the concession stand at the CrossFit Games to raise money for the 8^th grade camping trip and to help Sennett with its outdoor activity and playground fund.
• Our staff volunteers have been known to brave the heat to help alphabetize all of the 7^th and 8^th grade Chromebooks finishing in an hour what would have normally taken all day.
• You could find us as math tutors, helping students be the best they can be.
• Catch us volunteering for the ultimate frisbee club.
• You can spy on us helping with grounds care out of the school’s front bushes to keep Sennett looking spiffy!
• We have donated breakfast to all the staff working during parent teacher conferences, making home baked muffins, danishes and more.
• In January, we will be hosting 15 students who will be selected through an application process to show them what business looks like in a real office.

Running for Her

Our staff is an active bunch, so making a difference while also experiencing the benefits of exercise is a win-win. In 2019, LocknCharge again sponsored the Aruna Run helping to cover race expenses so that one-hundred percent of participant registration fees and donations would go to free, empower, and employ sexually enslaved women. Experts estimate that millions of people, predominantly women and children, are victims of sex trafficking in India alone. The Aruna Project is designed to catalyze freedom by their empowerment through employment model. They envision a day when every young woman is free to choose her own adventure.

Not only did LocknCharge help host the Madison Aruna Run 2019, several LocknCharge team members also participated in the 5k at Brittingham Park. By running or walking in an Aruna Race, they each ran for a specific enslaved woman by name, like Neha.

Championing Innovation

As Madison’s Most Innovative Company in 2018, we’re committed to assisting other local visionaries. It’s vital for us to promote and engage with fellow businesses that are making a difference in our community. That’s why we jumped at the chance to return to the scene of our win as a 2019 Hub sponsor of the sponsor Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce neXXpo event.

Attendees walked through seven “innovation hubs” made up of five creative, cutting-edge businesses competing for their votes. Meal kit service and farm-to-table deli and catering company Pasture & Plenty exhibited their commitment to making high quality, all-natural, plant-based or pasture-raised foods. They were rewarded as one of seven finalists selected to present at the Chamber’s Nex7 Stage event.

After a decade of giving back, we’re just getting started working on a better tomorrow. We can’t wait to share our community initiatives for 2020 and beyond!

Sources:

[1] Teachers in the US are spending $500 of their own money – Business Insider