New program to provide $750,000 in grants for unique learning opportunities outside the classroom
Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) has announced the launch of the Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Grant Program which will provide $750,000 in funding to eligible schools throughout the metro-Milwaukee area to help cover the cost of field trips during the 2013/2014 school year.
The donation comes from Kohl’s philanthropic program, Kohl’s Cares®, which sells special merchandise, including plush toys and books, and donates 100 percent of the net profit to benefit children’s health and education initiatives nationwide.
“Kohl’s has long been committed to supporting children’s educational initiatives in communities nationwide. Here in our hometown of Milwaukee, Kohl’s is proud to help children continue to learn and grow by increasing access to valuable experiential learning through the Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Grant Program,” said Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Kohl’s has amazing partners and educational programs throughout Milwaukee, and we are excited to showcase those terrific partners by offering them as field trip destinations for our local schools.
We are thrilled to be able to help our Milwaukee area children experience some of the best-in-class educational resources our community has to offer.” The Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Grant Program will allow local schools to take advantage of engaging, educational opportunities outside the classroom without the extra cost. The grants will cover the additional expenses schools incur when arranging student field trips, including admission fees (including incremental workshops), transportation, substitute teacher fees and materials required for the experience.
As part of Kohl’s long history of charitable involvement and partnership with premier organizations in its hometown of Milwaukee, Kohl’s is committed to creating meaningful learning opportunities for area children. Grants received through the Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Grant Program will allow teachers to enhance classroom curriculum by visiting Kohl’s education programs with several of its partner organizations including: Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, Discovery World, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Art Museum, and the Milwaukee County Zoo.
“Kohl’s is an amazing partner and has provided Kohl’s to fund field trips for Milwaukee-area schools phenomenal resources to allow us to empower students to connect what they learn in the classroom and apply it to the real world,” said Tim Greinert, president of Junior Achievement of Wisconsin.“We are thankful to Kohl’s for creating the Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Grant Program as it will allow more students the opportunity to step outside the classroom and put critical life lessons in financial literacy and work readiness into practice at the JA Kohl’s Education Center.”
“Through our valued partnership with Kohl’s, we have been able to give local youth the opportunity to experience everything from hands-on art creation to an interactive art gallery showcasing the fundamentals of art with the Kohl’s Art Generation program,” said Brigid Globensky, senior director of education and public programs at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
“Now with the Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Grant Program, even more children will have the opportunity to come through the doors of the museum and enjoy additional art education experiences outside of what is provided in the classroom.”
Educators from eligible schools are invited to apply for a Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Grant beginning March 1 through May 24, 2013. Eligible schools (K – grade 8) can apply for up to three grants valued up to $1,000 each and schools (grades 9 – 12) can apply for up to two grants valued up to $2,500 each to be used during the 2013/2014 academic year. Grants will be provided to accepted schools on a first-come, first-served basis March 1 through May 24 or until the $750,000 allotment has been fully utilized.
The program is open to accredited public schools and non-profit private schools with IRS 501(c)(3) status in the 10-county Milwaukee area, including the counties of Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha. For more information on the Kohl’s Cares Field Trip Grant Program, to apply for a grant or to view Official Rules, visit www.Kohls.com/fieldtrip.
Since 2000, Kohl’s and the Kohl’s Cares® program have combined to give nearly $50 million to support charitable initiatives in the metro-Milwaukee area.
For more information on Kohl’s philanthropic efforts, visit www.kohlscorporation.com.
