New Non-Profit Working To Send Entire 8th Grade Class To Alabama Space & Rocket Center

Edmonson County Enrichment Initiative Already Working In Local Schools

L-R: Kasey Alford with Alford's Pharmacy and Michelle Coleman with Bank of Edmonson County stand with ECMS Principal Brandon Prunty and teacher and ECEI Board Member Kendra Cline after matching donations to help with the Alabama field trip.

Darren Doyle, story: photo submitted
The entire 8th grade class has an opportunity to visit the NASA US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, thanks to the help of a new non-profit that was started by an ECHS graduate and his wife.

Adam Schultz, a 2001 ECHS graduate, started the Edmonson County Enrichment Initiative a couple years ago with his wife, Jennifer. He said he wanted to help provide Edmonson County students opportunities that would allow entire classes to participate in field trips that they might not be able to otherwise.

With the help of other local businesses that are on board with the Schultzs' ideas, students are now closer to that goal; however, they still need help from the local community.

So far, the group has raised funds for eight 7th and 8th grade students to attend the Virtual United Nations conference in March of 2021, they have purchased chapter book sets for Kyrock Elementary school that replaced old ones for the 3rd and 4th grade, helped provide a Sphero Bolt Robotic Project at ECHS, as well as the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness curriculum for K-4th graders at both elementary schools. This provides help to those that are behind in learning to read.

Schultz said their goal is to assist wherever they can with school and student needs where a helping hand might be needed.

Schultz graduated from WKU in 2005 and then moved to Louisville and worked as an engineer for GE Appliances for 10 years. During that time he also earned his MBA from the University of Louisville. He currently works as an engineering manager for Midea America Research Center in Louisville.

While he and his wife are working together to give back to Edmonson County, along with their board members that are made up of local school staff and residents, fundraising is necessary to make these projects happen.

They have plans for fundraising events in the future, like raffles and golf tournaments, but some local businesses have recently stepped up to help the ECEI. Alford's Pharmacy and Bank of Edmonson County made matching donations to the Space and Rocket Center field trip and Kayaks and More is currently selling a kayak package where 100% of the proceeds will go to the ECEI.

Schultz added that ECEI is a legal nonprofit with a tax ID, so all donations are tax deductible.

"I just wanted to add that, as usual, the businesses and people we've spoken to individually on this have really been super helpful and generous, so we definitely appreciate all of those who have given so far, and we look forward to continuing to grow and expand our scope to be able to help out even more," he said.

For more information or to find out how you can donate:

• call Adam: 502-554-8002
• call Kendra Cline (local teacher and board member) 270-246-3587
• visit their Facebook Page here
• email: [email protected]