Since 2004, the Gorter Family Foundation has been a committed partner of Cristo Rey St. Martin. After joining a philanthropic bus tour of Northern Lake County, the Gorters stopped at the old campus on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. The Gorters were inspired by the mission and the students they met there, and they began by funding modular classrooms and soon after helped launch student internships, including the first grants that placed students in nonprofit jobs.
Education in Lake County is central to the Foundation’s giving. “We want to help level the playing field so that all kids in Lake County have access to strong educational opportunities,” says Cheri Richardson, Executive Director since 2014. With a background at United Way of the North Shore and Mothers Trust, Cheri stays closely connected to community needs. “I love being able to support CRSM and continue this longstanding partnership.”
That relationship has continued to grow. The Foundation helped make CRSM’s new, safe campus at the former Kmart location possible.
“We were thrilled to help build the new safe school at the old Kmart location,” the Foundation shared. “It is wonderful to know there is a welcoming place for students to attend school and thrive.” The Foundation also recognizes the strength of CRSM’s staff.
“The teacher turnover rate is very low, and that is a testament to the support staff receive and their commitment to the organization,” Cheri notes.
For more than two decades, the Gorter Family Foundation has invested in CRSM’s students, facilities, and future. We are deeply grateful for their enduring support and belief in our mission.