Hurricane-Affected Elementary Schools in Louisiana and Mississippi Get Help

Throughout the year USA Funds^®, sponsors various fund-raising events that give employees the opportunity to raise money for those in need. For the second year, proceeds from a series of employee-coordinated events will help elementary schools affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Later this year, USA Funds will present a $1,113 check for school supplies to each of two schools, Edward Hynes Elementary in New Orleans and Okolona Elementary School in Mississippi.

Typically, USA Funds’ staff of 61 at USA Funds’ corporate headquarters in Indianapolis conducts spring and summer events to raise money for school supplies for elementary schools in USA Funds’ designated states and in the communities in which USA Funds has offices.

Three events this spring and summer — a Cinco de Mayo celebration, a “Cook-In to Kick-Off” and a “Race for Education” — raised a total of $2,227 including a 2:1 corporate match. The Cinco de Mayo celebration and Cook-In to Kick-Off gave employees the opportunity to show off their culinary skills as employees made their favorite dishes and gave donations to enjoy the homemade goods. At the Race for Education, employees took part in activities such as sack and egg races, and followed up with desserts that employees brought in for the occasion.

Last year USA Funds employees raised funds for three schools — Sacred Heart Elementary in D’Iberville, Miss.; Poplarville Lower Elementary in Poplarville, Miss.; and Benjamin Franklin Elementary in New Orleans.

“We made the decision to continue our outreach efforts to those schools affected by the hurricanes,” says Stacey Moore, USA Funds business manager and coordinator of USA Funds’ employee volunteer committee. “Some of these schools lost everything and are still struggling to rebuild, or their communities are struggling because of the economic loss. We knew our donation could make a difference there.”

Teresa Spruill, USA Funds customer-relations consultant for Louisiana, recommended that USA Funds donate a portion of the funds to Edward Hynes Elementary. The school is in New Orleans’ Lakeview area,  near the location of the 17th Street Canal levee breach that occurred following Hurricane Katrina. The area remains in devastation, Spruill reported.

Vicky Keller, USA Funds customer-relations manager for Mississippi and Florida, reported that Okolona Elementary School also is a school still in need. Okolona Elementary is in the Okolona school district, which is part of the Learning Communities initiative.  USA Funds is a member of the Learning Communities Coalition.

“Okolona typically is a low-income community, but the hurricanes have added even more strain,” says Keller. “Many families in this community worked in the Gulf area and have been impacted by Katrina.”