RACINE, Wis., May 8, 2018 – SC Johnson today announced the winners of a student essay competition and awarded $100,000 to Racine-area schools as part of the company’s longstanding commitment to literacy. The results were announced at a celebration event for the company’s Racine Wonders literacy program, which kicked off in January 2018 with distribution of the book “Wonder” to 9,000 area students. SC Johnson also surprised the 250 students in attendance with Kindle Fire tablets to further encourage a love of reading.
“At SC Johnson, we recognize that literacy opens up a world of opportunity including the potential for higher education and better jobs,” said Kelly M. Semrau, Senior Vice President – Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability at SC Johnson. “We are honored to make a difference in the lives of children in the Racine community by offering literacy programs that help set the stage for their future success.”
At the celebratory event today, the essay winners and their classmates heard from myFace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of patients with facial differences. The myFace representatives spoke to the importance of kindness and inclusion, themes which are featured prominently in “Wonder.” The students were also treated to a special performance by DJ Livia and the Monster Kids, a hip-hop dance group from Chicago that has been featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “America’s Got Talent” and the “Steve Harvey Show.”
“We value SC Johnson’s commitment to literacy and education in the Racine community,” said Eric Gallien, Interim-Superintendent of the Racine Unified School District. “The impact that a program like Racine Wonders has on students extends far beyond the classroom.”
SC Johnson and Literacy
Believing that literacy is an important step to future success, SC Johnson has long been a proponent of literacy programs in the community. Past programs include Racine Reads, the Racine Public Library Bookmobile, the local Battle of the Books competition and English Fest.
SC Johnson’s most recent literacy program, Racine Wonders, began in January with the distribution of The New York Times bestselling book, “Wonder,” to 9,000 fourth through eighth grade students. A curriculum developed by myFace was shared with teachers to promote discussion and hands-on learning in the classroom.
As part of the program, students were given the opportunity to submit essays on acts of kindness or superheroes of empathy for a chance to win $10,000 for their school. The essays were judged by students from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Institute for Professional Educator Development. Ten winners were announced – two for each grade level from fourth through eighth, with one winner in each grade from an area public school and one from an area private/independent school.
In partnership with Marcus Renaissance Cinema, students and teachers were also given the opportunity to bring the story and characters from the book to life with special viewings of the 2017 movie “Wonder,” starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson.
The Winners
Navya Agrawal, Walden III Middle School Darleen Cummings, St. John’s Lutheran School Amelia Flones, St. John’s Lutheran School Cheyenne Jones, Gilmore Middle School Xavier Lopez, Walden III Middle School Arthur Ramos, The Prairie School Michael Rempala, Janes Elementary School William Schaefer, The Prairie School Ryan To, St. Rita School Adriana Zavala, Julian Thomas Elementary School
About SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE® and RIDSECT®. The 132-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com
