Brown County Area United Way receives $5,513 from Koozie Group

Koozie Group is pleased to announce that it raised $5,513.95 for United Way of the Brown County Area in 2023 as a result of its writing instrument giveback program.

The program, which began in 2022, involves donating 5 percent of Koozie Group®'s writing instrument sales referencing a specific code. In 2023, the company raised $16,541.85 for three regional United Way chapters near its facilities in Florida and Minnesota, with each chapter receiving $5,513.95 apiece.

These chapters included United Way Suncoast in Tampa, Florida; United Way of Goodhue, Wabasha & Pierce Counties in Red Wing, Minnesota; and United Way of the Brown County Area in New Ulm, Minnesota. Last year, Koozie Group also provided 1,900 backpacks full of school supplies to these chapters to be distributed to area students for their back-to-school needs. The backpacks and their contents were valued at about $20,000.

Melissa Ralston, Chief Revenue Officer with Koozie Group, said, "As part of our Keep It. Give It.™ vision, we strive to do business in a way that benefits our people, our customers, our communities, and our industry. Givebacks are one of the many ways we accomplish this goal, and we are so proud to support amazing organizations like our local United Way chapters."

Sandra Juni, Executive Director of United Way of the Brown County Area, said, "The partnership with Koozie Group is instrumental to the success of our in-house programming. This generous gift affords us the opportunity to enhance and change the lives of so many children and provide them with opportunities that normally would have been inaccessible. We deeply appreciate the profound way that Koozie Group extends philanthropy into the Brown County Area."

Brown County United Way will use the $5,513.95 for the Youth Activities Scholarship program. Kelly Beach with Brown County United Way said this scholarship program provides for young people whose family have insufficient funds to cover activity and equipment fees. The scholarship could be used for youth ages 3 to 18 to enroll in summer recreation program, sports, community eduction program, music or dance programs. The scholarship could cover 80% of activity fees or 50 % of equipment costs.

The goal of United Way Youth Activities Scholarship program is to ensure any youth in Brown County area who desires to enroll in activities will not be denied the opportunity due to a lack of funds. Area families may apply for the scholarship they have filled out the Education Benefit form.