Andersens donates $25,000 for Hudson's River Crest Gateway

The Andersen Corporate Foundation donated $25,000 to the Gateway, the tunnel under County F that connects River Crest Elementary School to Camp St. Croix.

The money will be used toward the district's share of the cost of the Gateway, an estimated $125,000. The Gateway was designed to provide safe access across the busy county road and to facilitate environmental learning opportunities for school students at the camp.

Maureen McDonough, Andersen Corporate Foundation's vice president, grant administration, visited Camp St. Croix and the Gateway.

On behalf of the foundation, McDonough said, "When we saw the collaboration between the new River Crest school and the YMCA's Camp St. Croix, we were pleased to be able to make a donation to fund the Gateway that provides a safe crossing for the children."

In response to the support from the Andersen Corporate Foundation and Andersen Windows, Hudson School District Superintendent Mary Bowen-Eggebraaten said, "We greatly appreciate the Andersen Corporate Foundation's generous donation to the cost of the Gateway and their support of expanding environmental science learning opportunities for Hudson students through our partnership with Camp St. Croix. With this contribution to the Gateway, along with the 502 sustainable Andersen windows that were designed for River Crest, the Andersen Corporate Foundation and Andersen Windows have had a significant impact on fostering sustainable, eco-friendly learning and practices in the district while also supporting reduced operating costs for our taxpayers."

According to the school district, students and staff pass through the Gateway on a daily basis as classroom learning is expanded to include environmental education focusing on integrating math, science, problem-solving and technology on Camp St. Croix's campus. In addition, River Crest students participating in school-age care are able to move to Camp St. Croix in the afternoons for camp-led activities.

The Gateway is anticipated to be used not only by River Crest students and staff, but also district elementary summer school students and the community.

While the school district authorized the money to construct the tunnel, the intent was to pay for the Gateway through private donations. Along with the Andersen gift, the district has received $22,000 in additional donations toward the cost of the project.

According to district spokesman Tracy Habisch-Ahlin, the district also has several grants for additional funding that are pending.

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