RISE Gives Back

As proud members of the Glen Ellyn community, RISE and its amazing RISERS shared their love and gratitude for the community we’re part of by partnering with the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center (GECRC). “Our mission is to support under-resourced students as they grow and strengthen their academic skills and successfully progress through grades K-12 and into adulthood,” says Leah Harding, executive director of the GECRC. “We do this by making space for mutually enriching relationships via after-school and summer programs, which emphasize literacy and community involvement, with the help of teachers, volunteers, GECRC staff, parents and a variety of local partner organizations.”

RISE hosted four different classes on the pool deck at Glen Oak Country Club, where members and guests were invited to move for a good cause. All proceeds from the classes were donated to the GECRC. “I am always full of gratitude to be part of the Glen Ellyn business community,” says Katelyn Kaese, RISE owner and instructor. “I viewed it as a total win-win to be able to raise money for a local community organization while sharing our love for fitness. I was inspired with how much our amazing RISE instructors and RISERs got behind the effort.”

As the communications coordinator for the GECRC as well as a RISE cycle instructor, Emily Lobdell was a natural connection for RISE to join with the GECRC. “It was really awesome of Katelyn and Rachel (Beard) to think of this creative way to spread awareness about RISE AND GECRC through donation classes,” says Emily. “I know GECRC benefited from the partnership in terms of spreading awareness about the organization, and there has been some interest from RISE community members in pursuing volunteer opportunities as well as by making donations. These events and partnerships mean a lot to GECRC as they spread awareness, which is key to gain support for the tutoring programs, both financially and with new volunteers.”

While financial donations like that from the recent RISE classes is essential for the organization to run its afterschool and summer programs, Leah says the need for more volunteer tutors (high schoolers, college students, parents, grandparents, retired community members) is ever present. “We also look for Friday enrichment volunteers as well,” she says.

If you’d like to begin or continue to support the GECRC, especially after the challenges school children faced in the past year, volunteer opportunities are available for high schoolers to adults to retirees. For more info: https://www.gecrc.com/volunteer/

Or, visit the RISE SPECIFIC donation page: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/gecrc/event/838130/.

Any and all help is appreciated!