If you bought some great Dr. Seuss books or plush toys over the holidays for just $5 at Kohl's -- or if you're buying up the Eric Carle stuff available right now -- your money is going to good use right here in the Milwaukee area.
Yesterday afternoon, Kohl's Cares announced that it's renewing its partnership with Hunger Task Force with $1.5 million over three years for the Kohl's Serving Up Supper for Kids program.
The program, which stars in June, provides meals for children during the summer, when free or reduced-price school meals are unavailable to them.
The breakfast, lunch and dinner meals will be served at sites in Milwaukee Public Schools, West Allis/West Milwaukee School District, the Boys and Girls Club and City and County Parks. The exact locations have not yet been announced.
"The Kohl's Serving Up Supper for Kids program is a great example of Kohl's continued commitment to supporting children's health and education while filling a real need in our hometown community," said Julie Gardner, Kohl's executive vice president and chief marketing officer, in a statement.
"We're pleased to continue and expand our partnership with Hunger Task Force and proud to help Milwaukee area kids get the nutrition they need to grow and thrive during the summer months."
Kohl's also donates fresh produce from its corporate gardens to Hunger Task Force.
"Kohl's is a great partner. They wanted to take on one of the biggest hunger challenges in the city, which is making sure children are fed over the summer," said Sherrie Tussler, executive director of Hunger Task Force. "Providing supper during summer months when there are no other options for these children is especially significant. This is what makes Kohl's unique, their understanding that all youth in our city need three meals a day."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
