While safety is top of mind every day, there is a special time each year when MEM employees take time recognize it during our annual WorkSAFE celebration. It’s tradition for employees to team up and compete to see who can raise the most funds for our charity of choice for this event, Kids’ Chance of Missouri. Kids’ Chance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing post-high school scholarships to children of Missouri workers killed or seriously injured on the job.
This year, MEM employees raised $25,000 for the organization including a $5,000 match provided by MEM. The MEM and Kids’ Chance partnership, and the tradition of raising funds for the organization, has lasted more than 25 years.
“The scholarships have had a tremendous impact on both the student and their parent(s),” Kids’ Chance of Missouri Executive Director Jim Susman said. “We often hear that without the Kids’ Chance scholarship a student would be unable to attend college. Our scholarships have helped students complete four-year degrees, community colleges, trade schools, and become teachers, lawyers, and doctors to name a few of the professions.”
Currently there are 33 students receiving Kids’ Chance scholarships. The scholarships are $7,000 for the school year. The current year awards make up the most in scholarship awards that Missouri Kids’ Chance has given out in one school year. Since 1996, the organization has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to recipients who attend school throughout Missouri and surrounding states.
Two MEM employees serve on the Kids’ Chance of Missouri Board of Directors.
“Seeing the kids and listening to them and their stories and how much the scholarship money has helped them in their lives at a time where things can be very difficult for them is so rewarding,” said Laura Sides Cooper, Managing Attorney at MEM, and Kids’ Chance Board Member.
Sides Cooper began volunteering for Kids’ Chance about 10 years ago.
Learn more about her involvement here: