The River Food Pantry is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $25,000 Good Neighbor Grant from Ascendium Education Group.
The River is one of 40 recipients of a $25,000 Good Neighbor Grant, as nominated and voted on by Ascendium employees.
This grant will help The River continue to support the community by providing food for the rising number of local households facing food insecurity. As South Central Wisconsin’s busiest pantry, The River strives to reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition among low-income and underserved communities while promoting sustainable, waste-free food systems. Since opening in 2006, The River has grown to serve over 3,000 people each week through a network of free, mutually-supportive programs.
“We are very grateful to Ascendium for their continued support over the years,” said Rhonda Adams, Executive Director of The River, which has been serving more people than ever before in 2024. “This grant will help us nourish our neighbors in need, including thousands of children, who depend on reliable, healthy nutrition for both social development and academic success.”
Good Neighbor Grants are part of Ascendium’s employee giving program, Ascendium Cares. Through this program, Ascendium employees commit to making a difference in the communities where they live and work by volunteering their time, talent, and support to organizations in various ways. Good Neighbor Grants are one of many opportunities for employees to engage with Ascendium’s mission to improve outcomes, particularly in education and workforce training, for learners from low-income backgrounds.
Because employees know their communities best, Good Neighbor Grants tap their expertise by asking them to research, nominate, and vote for nonprofits with missions that resonate with them. Since 2021, 90 nonprofits have received a Good Neighbor Grant, which allows them to continue going above and beyond to create education and workforce training opportunities in their communities.
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About The River Food Pantry
The River is South Central Wisconsin’s busiest food pantry. Services include free groceries and freshly prepared meals for pickup or delivery, online grocery orders, mobile meals, and after-hours food lockers. The River also redistributes rescued food and resources to local partners to increase access while minimizing waste. Since 2006, The River has grown to serve over 3,000 people every week in pursuit of its vision: a fully nourished community. Learn more at riverfoodpantry.org.
About Ascendium
Ascendium Education Group is committed to making education and training beyond high school a reality for more people. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we fund initiatives across the U.S. that help learners from low-income backgrounds achieve upward mobility; provide student and employee success solutions to colleges and businesses; invest in education-focused innovations to improve learner outcomes; and provide information, tools and counseling to help millions of borrowers successfully repay their federal student loans. While we have many roles, we have one goal — elevating opportunity by creating a world where everyone can rise to their highest potential. To learn more, visit ascendiumeducation.org.