Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Customer patronage supports Hurley K-12 School

By TOM LAVENTURE

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HURLEY, Wis. - The Hurley Education Foundation added $20,508 to its budget thanks to a community that puts students before profits.

For the past nine years the Cash for Kids program of Midland Services, Inc., has allowed the customer-owners of the cooperative business organization to forego their annual percentage of cash and equity profits to several area school districts, said Trent Allen, general manager of Midland Services Inc., which brands under Midland Energy.

There is no cost to the customer-owner for the patronage, he said. When they purchase fuel or other products from Midland they just say, Cash for Kids to the clerk.

"The customer-owners live in different areas and give to their school district and register the school with their patronage accounts," Allen said. "Obviously Hurley is a shining star with 100% . I think this is the ninth year and Hurly has surpassed the highest performer in terms of participation."

Other school district patronage accounts include Ashland, Brule, Mellen, Northwestern-Maple, Our Lady of the Lake School, South Shore Schools and Washburn. The Chequamegon Humane Association is also a popular patronage account, he said.

"We were very pleasantly surprised this year with the support from the total community," said Peter Sturgul, a board member of the Hurley Education Foundation that has contributed $900,000 to educational activities at Hurley K-12 school over 20 years. The foundation sends the funds to the Hurley School District where they are used for non-budgetary item.

The Cash for Kids donations are a significant portion of the annual budget, Sturgul said. Funds have been used to support a variety of programs weight room equipment, athletic programs and travel costs, lathes and shop equipment, he said.

Major donations include $100,000 to support the Northwoods Manufacturing expansion project, note pads and laptops for every student in the school and smart boards in every classroom, he said. The small things are just as important for student experience, and include $2,500 to the art department for graphic design software, music instruments including a guitar for lessons in school, the fitness center and the cross-country skiing program.

"I could go on and on," Sturgul said. "It's quite a program and without it some of these things would not be funded by the school's very tight budget."

The annual Cash for Kids check was presented to the Hurley Education Foundation on Sept. 6 at Veterans Memorial Field in Hurley, just prior to the Northstars football game with Rosholt High School.

Since the Cash for Kids program started in 2010 the Hurley funds have totaled $128,000, said Tammie Bartels, a Midland Services, Inc. employee.

"Hurly School does see the bigger checks," she said. "It's very well supported."

 
 
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