A donation of $6,000 from the Northeast Florida Chapter of the Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA) helped St. Johns County non-profit agency INK! – Investing in Kids! – receive matching funds from the Gannett Foundation that provided reading literacy skills to 200 four- to five-year-olds.
“Students who struggle with reading skills from the time they enter Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten without some sort of intervention never catch up and often times resort to disruptive behavior to mask their shortcomings,” said INK! Executive Director Donna Lueders. “The generosity of the Northeast Florida RV Association Chapter’s had a life-changing impact on these children and gave them the advantage they desperately need.”
Lueders notes that one principal conducted a study of the young participants found that those who took part in INK!’s literacy intervention experienced learning gains that have continued in third grade.
“We were excited that the study touts the effectiveness of the program,” she said. “Although a $6,000 donation doesn’t sound like a lot, those funds from the Northeast FRVTA members were instrumental in leveraging the matching grant that, in the end, totaled more than $56,000 and reached so many kids.”
Made up of area RV dealers, accessory companies and campground representatives in the region, the FRVTA Northeast Region has made more than $60,000 community donations over the last five years.
“It’s gratifying to see that our small donation turned out to make such a huge impact in INK!’s program and the number of children who benefitted as a result,” said Northeast Florida FRVTA Board Treasurer Jerry Tempio. “Our members have made children and children’s nonprofit organizations a focal point for our giving over the last few years. We also appreciate the support of the local community at our regional RV shows over the last several years, which have helped us raise these funds that our chapter can then reinvest into worthy causes in our communities.”
