$50K Raised for Kids’ Food Basket to Feed a School for a Year

98 golfers participated in an 18-hole golf scramble at StoneWater Golf Course to help feed children in West Michigan

June 13, 2019

Grand Rapids, MI – Service Express hosted its sixth annual Feed a School for a Year Golf Tournament in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, June 4. Approximately $50,000 was raised to help support kids at or near the poverty line in West Michigan by sending them home with a free, well-balanced evening meal full of nutritious food through the Sack Supper Program. Sack Suppers are distributed within classrooms at the end of each school day and during summer programs.

The Sack Supper Program serves children who attend schools where 70% or more of the student population receive free or reduced-cost lunch. It takes around $30K to feed one of these schools for an entire year. Currently, Kids’ Food Basket serves 47 local schools through the Sack Supper program, and there are 30 additional schools on the wait list. Service Express has targeted a goal to raise $30K each year through this golf tournament. With generous support from sponsors and participants, more than $200K has been donated over the last six years.

“1 in 5 children in Michigan is affected by hunger. We want local students to be able to start their day focused on learning,” said Service Express President & CEO Ron Alvesteffer. “This signature golf event is not only a lot of fun for participants, but the funds raised help meet the nutritional food needs of so many of our kids here in West Michigan.”

Tournament participants enjoyed a variety of competitions in addition to the 18 holes of scramble golf play. Activities included longest drive, longest putt and closest to the pin competitions. An Audi A4 (courtesy of Fox Motors) and $5,000 were up for grabs in the Hole in One challenge.

“Childhood hunger is not fun, but changing the world can be. Our communities endlessly amaze me, and I can’t thank all those who participated enough for joining the Feeding A School for a Year Golf Outing. Service Express knows that when children are well nourished, they have the opportunity to succeed in school and life,” said Bridget Clark Whitney, Founding CEO of Kids’ Food Basket. “We are so grateful for Service Express’ leadership and continued partnership. For six years, this event has continued to be an incredible example of when a community comes together, we create an opportunity to provide access to nourishing food for all of our children, in return building a stronger, more vibrant West Michigan.”

The Feed a School for a Year Golf Tournament is Kids’ Food Basket’s signature golf outing with Legacy Sponsor Service Express both planning and executing the event to help eliminate food insecurity for local children. When students are nourished and have certainty about their next meal, they are better able to focus on what they are learning.

This year’s sponsors included Steenland Insurance, Andy J. Eagan and Co., Bruce Pienton Family Foundation, SYMM-Care and Morgan Stanley.

For more information on next year’s Feed a School for a Year Golf Tournament and 2020 Sponsorships, please visit https://lp.serviceexpress.com/feedaschoolforayear.html.

Video Recap of This Year’s Event:

About Kids’ Food Basket

Kids’ Food Basket, best known for its flagship Sack Supper Program, provides a free, well-balanced nutritious evening meal distributed within classrooms at the end of each school day. Through the Sack Supper program, Kids’ Food Basket serves over 8,000 kids at 48 schools where 70% or more of the student population receive free or reduced-cost lunch in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland. More than 250 volunteers each day help prepare, pack and deliver Sack Suppers, a well-rounded evening meal that provides nutrition critical to the development of the brain and body. To learn more or see how you can make a difference, visit kidsfoodbasket.org.