INTRODUCTION TO INVEST
Much like employees in the private sector may participate in a charitable giving campaign through their employer, Village employees are invited to participate in an organization called InVEST. The name is an acronym for “Involved Village Employees Serving Together.” InVEST is an independent entity, not overseen by Village administration or the Village Board, but ruled by its own Board and Executive Committee, which is comprised solely of Village employees.
InVEST collects funds through payroll deductions and then distributes these monies through Emergency and Charitable Funds. Each year, employees designate the charities that will receive support. In addition to collecting funds through payroll deduction, the group conducts small fundraisers and community service projects throughout the year.
YEAR END RECAP
During 2014, $3,442 from InVEST’s Emergency Fund was used to help ten people. Through InVEST’s Charitable Fund: $1,500 was donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha; $1,185 was donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation; and $1,185 was donated to the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. InVEST made an additional donation to the Kenosha Noon Optimist Club for the Youth of the Year program.
Additional fundraisers conducted throughout 2014 included:
• a Fuel for Funds fundraiser with Truesdell Mini-Mart,
• a Packer vs Bear Day employees donate to wear their team’s jersey,
• Jeans Days employees donate to wear jeans on designated days,
• Celebrity Chef fundraisers with Nick n Willy’s Pizza,
• Bake Sales conducted throughout the year,
• a Pi (Pie) Day pie sale,
• a Holiday Wrapping fundraiser, and
• a Stick It to Em fundraiser where employees were taped to a wall in return for donations.
Other activities undertaken by InVEST during 2014 included:
• constructing a Hoop House for the Kenosha Achievement Center (pictured),
• hosting three blood drives,
• hosting a school supply drive for local elementary schools,
• hosting a hat, coat and mitten drive during the Month of Caring,
• hosting a toy drive on behalf of the Toys for Tots program,
• hosting a Giving Tree at RecPlex during the holiday season, and
• participating in Adopt a Family (adopting seven families at Christmas time).
Village employees would like to thank all of the local businesses and members of our community who helped to support and participated in these various fundraisers, drives and activities. Your concern for others in our community is heartwarming, and we cannot thank you enough. To learn more about InVEST, please email [email protected].