What started out as some friends wanting to do good in the local community turns into a nearly million-dollar venture that benefits kids.
The Wisconsin dairy industry contributes more than $40 billion to the state’s economy each year, but for people like Jim Ostrom of De Pere, co-founder of Milk Source, he wanted to do more.
According to Ostrom, “A group of friends that got together eight years ago said, ‘We should do something for the betterment of our society, and we’re in the dairy industry, many of us are,’ and we formed this group called Dairy Cares.”
The group deciding to designate Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin as the benefactor of any money it could raise through Dairy Cares.
“It became pretty obvious to everybody that Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin had a common denominator with so many of us,” adds Ostrom.
Through events like the “Kickin’ It With the Cows” 5K, where more than a thousand people will take on the course at Voyageur Park in De Pere this Saturday, event chair Mike Kuehl says, “This Kickin’ It with the Cows event is going to be something really special for everybody, and we want to make it long lasting and we want to make it bigger and better each and every year.”
Along with the annual Dairy Cares Garden Party, which will be held on July 28 on the Ostrom’s De Pere property overlooking the Fox River, Dairy Cares is close to surpassing one million dollars in fundraising in its first eight years. All of that money benefits Children’s Hospital and its many different programs.
Ostrom adds, “It’s really quite amazing. It’s bigger than all of us, it’s bigger than any of us, and we’re just thrilled to be a part of it.”
Kristine Brunson knows firsthand the impact Dairy Cares and Children’s Hospital can have on a family. Her 11-year-old son, Taylor, diagnosed with a very rare genetic disorder, has benefited from the hospital’s care and services.
“We have had the chance to take advantage of some of the new technology that they have there and it really makes a difference for the kids,” says Brunson.
Affirmation that what Dairy Cares has done, and hopes to continue to do, makes things better for kids.
Source: WBay.com