The smile on Karen Branch’s face seemed to light up the entire Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau board room.
There was good reason as the YSB executive director and two board members accepted a $30,000 check from Crown Cork and Seal during a ceremony Tuesday.
“To have a corporate donation this size, it just doesn’t happen for us routinely,” Branch said. “We have a lot of corporate support in the community, but not at this level. I just think of all the kids’ lives that will be changed because of this.”
The funds are earmarked specifically for the alternative school run by YSB.
“When I think of the alternative school, I always think what that means for the future of our community,” Branch added. “If these kids get an education, they become responsible, contributing members and, hopefully become a part of the workforce maybe even at Crown Cork and Seal.”
The check was presented by Crawfordsville quality manager Nikki Moore, plant manager James Monroe and human resources manager Kenneth Harshbarger. The donation is part of Crown’s Twentyby30 global sustainability program with goals to make choices that prioritize environments, resources, people and communities.
“I’ve been working in some way with (YSB) since 2018,” Moore said. “Very excited to be able to give this to them and our company supporting us on a local level means a lot.”
Part of the way the school is sustained is by a federal Department of Education Title I grant. Branch stated due to several states out of compliance with regulations for Title I, no state will receive funding until all are back in the boundaries.
“This is so timely for us. Indiana was in compliance, but (grant) held up our funds and we were not funded for 2022. That’s a $42,000 grant. So this $30,000 went such a long way in making up that difference.”
All three Montgomery County school districts also contribute with other funds from corporate and private donations.
Many at Crown Cork and Seal have ties to YSB.
“I couldn’t think of anything better because we’ve actually had a success story from the alternative school,” Moore said. “One of our employees’ son has a successful career in the military because of that.”
“My wife was part of Youth Service Bureau for many years,” Monroe said. “Just to see the passion everybody has that’s part of this, it’s awesome that we can be partnered and help in any way we can.”
The alternative school was started more than eight years ago after a request from county school corporations following the closure of the alternative school run by the probation department.
“All three school corporations came to us in March 2014 and asked if we could put together an alternative school, open by August and we did,” Branch said.
The school assists students that were suspended, expelled or who just do not benefit from a traditional school setting, according to Branch.
“The anxiety they have about going to a public school is just overwhelming,” Branch added. “But to come here with 15 students rather than 600 makes a huge difference in their ability to learn.”
The alternative school also has benefitted many students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Last year, all the seniors who were supposed to have been working virtually the year before and didn’t became credit deficient,” Branch said. ”So we had 15 seniors who came to us last year and were able to catch up their credits and graduate with their class.”
“I just appreciate all the work, not only Karen, but the entire staff puts into these programs,” YSB board member Kashawndra Cooper said. “Thinking outside the box to reach out to the youth in the community. It’s remarkable we can take kids into the alternative school and turn them over and prepared for the workforce.”
The 130-year old, Pennsylvania-based Crown Holdings Inc. operates with approximately 60 employees at the Crawfordsville manufacturing plant.
