By Jeffrey Jensen
Ascendium Education Group

In late March, leadership from Boys & Girls Club of Dane County and United Way of Dane County announced a collaborative effort to provide financial relief for individuals and families affected by COVID-19.

Within a month, more than 1,000 donors consisting of community members and businesses raised $2 million. This includes an $85,000 corporate donation from Ascendium Education Group, a leading funder of this initiative. “The focus of our grantmaking is national,” said Ascendium’s Vice President of Education Philanthropy Amy Kerwin, “but most of our employees live and work in Madison. We wanted to be among those who step up to help our neighbors at a time like this.”

Ascendium’s donation supports a fund administered by agencies that are on the front lines of providing services. The money is being used to address the needs rising to the top in Dane County, including meals for older adults and children, and eviction and homelessness prevention.

Acts like this are not new for Ascendium. As a long-time Northside neighbor, they have a history of employee and corporate giving, including volunteering in the community.

For more information about the COVID-19 Emergency and Recovery Fund and to make a donation, visit unitedwaydanecounty.org.