Madison Reading Project: Launching Saturday 5/18: Wisconsin’s First All-Accessible Free Book Bus

For Immediate Release

More Information:
Rowan Childs, (608) 347-7970
Rowan@madisonreadingproject.com

1337 Greenway Cross, Suite 186      
Madison, WI 53713
www.madisonreadingproject.com

Launching Saturday 5/18: Wisconsin’s First All-Accessible Free Book Bus 

On Saturday, May 18, Madison Reading Project will roll out the first, all-accessible free book bus in Wisconsin, beginning its journey to bring free literacy programs to children.

Madison Reading Project invites the community to attend the official launch, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Kohl Center concourse at the UW-Madison Campus and is free and open to the public.  

Hosted by Wisconsin Athletics, the event will feature tours of both Madison Reading Project book buses and other mobile partners, including Madison School and Community Recreation, local libraries, and meet & greet Bucky Badger! Plus, free books for all children attending!

“Our organization’s first book bus turns five this year and it’s just been an incredible journey to see the growing impact we’ve created,” says Rowan Childs, founder and executive director. “Requests for our mobile services have skyrocketed in the last few years. We have seen and heard the needs of our community and we want to help provide solutions in the most inclusive way possible. 

“We truly hope everyone will join us for Saturday’s celebration, old friends and new,” Childs adds. “It’s crucial that we continuously strive to remove barriers to accessing free books and literacy resources.” 

“We’re so grateful to Junior League of Madison, American Girl, Madison Community Foundation, several corporate donors, local foundations, and individuals who helped our funding campaign.”

 From now until May 31, Junior League is offering a $50K matching grant to help fill the bus with books. To make a matching donation, visit:

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fillthebuscampaign/event/bookbuspalooza/

“A gift in any amount will help our staff and volunteers reach thousands of children with free books and literacy engagement across the greater Dane County area,” says Emily Wills, Madison Reading Project development director. 

Chartered in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Madison Reading Project has given more than 500,000 books to children living in nine (9) South Central Wisconsin counties. 

Much of the giving is targeted to under-resourced families and children needing literacy support.

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Angela Joyce Joins M3 as Director of Communications

Angela Joyce has joined M3 Insurance as the director of communications. In this role, she operates as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to M3’s sales and business development teams by equipping them with the knowledge they need to best serve our clients across all markets. Her role encompasses internal communications, sales enablement, public relations, and crisis communications as a part of M3’s Rapid Response & Recovery team. Additionally, Joyce ensures M3’s consistent messaging across all channels.

Prior to joining M3, Joyce held the position of communications director in the Wisconsin State Legislature for seven years, including serving in the highest-ranking leadership office. She managed external and rapid response communications while cultivating positive media relations with local and national news outlets. Joyce also led communication strategy and execution for the majority caucus, leveraging PR opportunities to promote legislative initiatives statewide.

Joyce earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Connecticut and her master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Edgewood College. Her prior experience makes her well-versed in public relations, strategy, and crisis communications. M3 is thrilled to have her join our team to further promote M3’s brand, initiatives, and achievements.

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About M3

M3 is a top insurance broker and risk management firm in America. We’re leaders in the products we represent and the industries we serve. M3’s people are an extension of your team, providing world-class resources to help you manage risk, purchase insurance, and provide employee benefits. And our focus on community builds better places to live and work.

Deadline Approaching: Apply Now for gALPHA Urban League!

gALPHA Urban League is a no-cost, four-week business accelerator that works with Black entrepreneurs and other entrepreneurs of color from high tech startups to main street small businesses. gALPHA Urban League will provide educational components, mentorship, networking opportunities, and more for entrepreneurs with new ideas as well as for those already in business but looking to expand or enhance their business.

gALPHA Urban League is powered by gener8tor, a nationally ranked entrepreneurial accelerator. We are especially seeking entrepreneurs who are interested in becoming a part of the Black Business Hub community. The program will run from May 20-June 18.

Apply here by May 10

One Community Bank Hosts Annual Power of ONE Community Week!

May 7, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Ameilia Abraham
One Community Bank
608-838-3141
aabraham@onecommunity.bank

One Community Bank Hosts Annual Power of ONE Community Week!

(May 2024) – One Community Bank is proud to participate in Wisconsin Bankers Association annual Power of Community Week during April 15 – 20. OCB celebrated the week with a Cereal Drive, a Teach Children to Save initiative, a Teen Financial Literacy Workshop, a Financial Literacy Storytime at the Sun Prairie Library, kicking off its First-Time Homebuyer Seminars, making ONE last push to apply for the OCB scholarship, and announcing the Free Community Shred Event at its McFarland location.

“One Community Bank is proud to play an active role in our community, after all, community is our middle name. I am proud of our colleagues that made Power of Community Week possible and took the time out of their workday to give back to the communities we serve,” said Steve Peotter, President and CEO. “One Community Bank is thrilled to spread the wealth of financial education to all members of the community.”

One Community Bank was proud to give back to communities in a variety of ways including hosting a cereal drive across all locations. OCB is ecstatic to donate a total of 275 boxes of cereal to our communities’ food pantries! The cereal drive consisted of donations from clients and colleagues.

OCB was delighted to provide financial literacy to 1,238 students with its Teach Children to Save Initiative. Educating students across the rainbow of its communities in south central Wisconsin. Our educational program was geared towards students in grades K-2.

At our brand-new Cottage Grove location, OCB hosted its first Teen Financial Literacy Workshop on Wednesday, April 17. This workshop was designed to equip teenagers with an overview of essential financial skills for a successful future.

The Sun Prairie Library hosted a Financial Literacy Storytime with One Community Bank on Tuesday, April 16. This well attended event was geared toward students in grades 4K – 3.

OCB kicked off its First-Time Home Buyer Seminars, a free educational seminar with OCB’s Head of Mortgage Lending and Dan Chin Homes. The first ONE was hosted at OCB’s McFarland location on Thursday, April 18. For more information, please visit https://onecommunity.bank/personal/mortgages/mortgage-loans/.

Annually, One Community Bank gives three high school seniors a $1,000 scholarship each. The deadline to apply for the OCB scholarship was Saturday, April 20. OCB made ONE last push for applicants to apply for the scholarship.

Lastly, OCB announced its upcoming Free Community Shred Event at its McFarland location on Saturday, June 8 from 8-10 AM. We are proud to provide a free and safe way to shred documents. Everyone is welcome to bring a maximum of 50 pounds of paper to shred.

OCB hosted this event in honor of Wisconsin Bankers Association annual Power of Community Week. This week is dedicated to showing the collective support community banks provide to businesses and their communities.

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One Community Bank is one of the largest community banks in south central Wisconsin. The locally owned bank has 16 bank locations and $2.1 billion in assets. It provides both personal and business banking solutions, with an intense focus on serving clients, supporting colleagues, and investing in its communities. Six years in a row named one of Madison’s best places to work, One Community Bank serves the communities of Oregon, McFarland, Waunakee, Stoughton, Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove, Middleton, Adams, Oxford, Grand Marsh, Hillsboro, La Farge, Readstown, Wonewoc, and Union Center. Member FDIC.

Per Mar Security Earns 5-Diamond Certification from the Monitoring Association

Contact: Jordin Wilson, Per Mar Security Services, (563) 344-7313 

For Immediate Release: May 7, 2024            

Per Mar Security Earns 5-Diamond Certification from the Monitoring Association

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Per Mar Security Services, a leading provider of total security solutions for residential and commercial clients based in Davenport, IA, received the prestigious “Five Diamond Certification” from The Monitoring Association (TMA). Five Diamond Certification is granted to monitoring centers that meet the five points of excellence.

• Commitment to ongoing job-related education and testing by having 100% of its monitoring center operators certified using the TMA online training series on industry best practices.
• Commitment to random inspections and quality criteria standards by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as FM Approvals, Intertek/ETL and UL.
• Commitment to raising the industry standards through TMA membership and participation in its activities.
• Commitment to reducing false dispatches.
• Commitment to the highest levels of customer service.

TMA’s Five Diamond designation means, in particular, that a monitoring company has demonstrated an exceptionally high degree of responsibility to their local community and their customers through the investment of time, money and commitment to quality operator training. Operators serve as the life-saving link between residential or business properties and the police, fire and emergency services in local areas. The TMA Monitoring Center Operator course covers virtually all phases of monitoring center communications with customers, police, fire and emergency services communications centers. In order to achieve the Five Diamond designation, every operator must not only pass the course and recertify every three years, but demonstrate:

• Proficiency in alarm confirmation process, which helps reduce false alarms
• Proficiency in communications with Public Service Answering Points, such as the Emergency 911 centers
• Knowledge of electronic communications equipment, including, cellular, radio and internet communication systems
• An understanding of the codes and standards of such organizations as Underwriters Laboratories, Factory Mutual, the National Fire Protection Association and others
• Proficiency in the area of emergency preparedness under a wide scenario of possibilities.

In 2022, Five Diamond has expanded to include TMA Member video monitoring companies that are hosted by a UL827 registered TMA member data center and fulfill all other program requirements. There are approximately 2,700 monitoring centers in the United States that communicate and interact with police, fire and emergency services agencies. Of this group, fewer than 130 monitoring centers have achieved the Five Diamond designation, setting these companies apart.

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About Per Mar Security Services

Established in 1953, Per Mar Security Services is the largest, family-owned, full-service security company in the Midwest with more than 3,000 team members, operating in 27 branch locations. The company provides full-service security solutions for homes and businesses including live video monitoring, security officer services, smart home automation, burglar and fire alarms, access control, security cameras, alarm monitoring, investigative services, and background checks. For more information about Per Mar Security Services, please visit permarsecurity.com.