The Answer Company Fundraises Over $8900 for Room to Read
The Answer Company was first introduced to Room to Read when the non-profit organization implemented Sage Intacct as their new ERP solution. Resonating strongly with the organization’s mission and efforts, The Answer Company teamed up with Sage Foundation for a joint fundraising initiative to raise awareness and money for Room to Read.
In May and June, our team members across North America made their best efforts to not only donate, but fundraise amongst their colleagues, friends, and families. We encouraged donations from all members of our community, by spreading the word through social media and at our exclusive client event, Propel 2021.
Over these fundraising months, team members shared the books they were reading and participated in reading challenges by sharing the number of pages read in the week. To encourage everyone with a bit of fun, an internal virtual gift basket raffle raised $1,700 solely by employees. In the spirit of giving, Shawn Ostheimer, our Founder and President, matched employee donations for a two-week time frame, which contributed an extra $1,483 to our efforts.
“We did our Q2 Answering The Call initiative with Room to Read because we recognized their financial transparency, well-developed education programs, and incredible results over the past two decades,” commented Linda Djurisic, our Human Resources Manager, “With strict pandemic restrictions still in place, we knew a virtual fundraiser was the perfect initiative to keep our team across North America involved and excited about giving back. With many of our team members situated in different cities, it was so wonderful to see everyone band together in their fundraising efforts.”
At the end of the initiative, The Answer Company fundraised a total of $8,903 with 55 supporters. Furthermore, Sage Foundation contributed £5000 (approximately $8,700 CAD) at the end of the campaign in their gracious commitment to match our fundraising efforts.
“This fundraising campaign helped us recognize how lucky we are to have access to education. Room to Read is an excellent nonprofit that has proven that change is truly possible, as shown through the lives now led by its schools’ students. We are very happy to have been able to contribute to this mission of delivering quality education to young citizens around the world.”
— Shawn Ostheimer, Founder & President of The Answer Company.
About Room to Read
Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to education and improving literacy for children and young girls in low-income developing nations.
Room to Read brings to a light a number of shocking statistics that prompted The Answer Company to fundraise. Around the world, 500 million women still lack basic reading and writing skills and 131 million young girls are not currently in school. Abundant research has shown that staying in school and developing literacy skills significantly improves a young woman’s quality of life as well as her future family’s quality of life.
Through a multitude of well-developed programs, Room to Read’s schools are able to teach children how to read and write in their country’s most integral language. The Literacy Program teaches children critical language skills in the first few years of primary school, while the Girls’ Education Program nurtures reading skills in girls in the first few years of secondary school. Since 2000, the organization has reached over 20 million children around the world.
Due to the pandemic, Room to Read saw how a year of school closures have only made their work more critical and their solutions, more than ever, a life-saving resource. Learn more about Room to Read in this fact sheet or visit www.roomtoread.org.
About Sage Foundation
Sage Foundation makes a positive impact on communities and company culture by engaging colleagues and Sage Partners in charitable activities. The foundation places particular focus into efforts that deliver opportunities to young people, women, and military veterans. Through its many Sage Partner philanthropy projects over the years, Sage Foundation has aligned its efforts with six of the 17 United Nations goals: education for all; gender equality; decent work opportunities; economic growth; innovation and meaningful partnerships.