Posted on May 27, 2015
Tom Gaumond, CARING Group, Rotary Club of New Berlin, New Berlin Rotary
A win-win situation for New Berlin businesses, schools
 
Do you care about New Berlin's schools? Would you like to support them through donations? Now you can. Tom Gaumond, president of CARING Group, introduced us to his program during our meeting on May 27.
 
The concept is simple. Businesses sign up for the program. Customers, known as members, also register and designate which school(s) are to receive their donations. While checking out at a participating business, customers mention they intend to make a CARING purchase and provide their phone number. This ensures the transaction is tied to the particular member. (All members of a household can use that phone number when making purchases.) Any product or service offered by the business is eligible for this program.
 
CARING (Companies Actively Reinvesting In Neighborhood Growth) Group began in Brookfield to support the Elmbrook School District. Two staff members from the School District of New Berlin attended this meeting to discuss how the program will be extended into New Berlin.
 
CARIING is 100% free to businesses and members. However, they ask that participating businesses donate at least 5% of member sales. CARING Group is a 501(c)(3) organization, so all donations are tax deductible to the business. The CARING Group website tracks all donations, which are handled automatically through a direct debit process.
 
The schools decide how to use the funds, Gaumond says. One school invested in its theater. Another applied the funds to its library. Members may select which school(s) are to receive their donations. Both public and private schools are eligible for CARING Group donations.
 
If you would like to register your New Berlin business, or join as a member, contact either of these Rotarians:
Scott Klaas: 262-347-9329
Jeremy Rynders: 414-795-6675