COLUMBUS, Ind. — A local company is collaborating with Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. in an annual effort to help students and their families.
Johnson-Witkemper Insurance, Inc, a subsidiary of Marvin Johnson & Associates, recently donated more than $20,000 to BCSC schools for them to redistribute to families in need, said former BCSC student assistance coordinator Larry Perkinson. On Friday, Tony Johnson, executive vice president of Marvin Johnson & Associates, delivered checks to schools, accompanied by Perkinson and his successor, Janae Norman.
“(The money) goes to the principals, and they use their staff, teachers, deans to identify as many families as they can help,” said Perkinson, who dressed up as Santa Claus for the visits.
Once, a student’s family didn’t have transportation, so the boy was given a winter coat and a bicycle so that he could continue going to school.
“The deans, counselors, principals, teachers know their kids better than we do,” said Norman. “And they know where the needs are. … They know it’s all for student needs, so that’s what it goes towards.”
“We’ve actually been doing this event since 2009, but it started in 2008 when Johnson-Witkemper made a huge donation to help families after the flood,” Perkinson said.
