MILWAUKEE — With funding for the bronze life-like statue of Henry Winkler as his iconic TV character Fonzie, from the hit series "Happy Days" now secure, the project is moving into a new community benefit direction, thanks to a promotion at Milwaukee-area Culver's restaurants.
Culver's co-founder Craig Culver recently announced that for a limited time, starting Feb. 1, Culver's will donate $1 for every Turtle Sundae ordered at its 41 Milwaukee area restaurants to SPARK (Spheres of Proud Achievement in Reading for Kids.) The goal is to raise $10,000, which will be presented to the Boys & Girls Clubs and UW-Milwaukee at the statue dedication, tentatively set for late summer or early fall in Milwaukee.
SPARK is a program coordinated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The program operates in kindergarten through grade three at six Milwaukee school sites, including four public schools, a parochial school and a charter school. The focus is on supporting reading achievement through key "spheres" determined through research to be important to student success: school, community and family.
"We'd like to thank the Wisconsin Association of School Boards for bringing SPARK to our attention," said Culver. "While the Culver's restaurant concept embodies the fun 'happy days' of good times and good food, it's extra special that we can support the crucial work SPARK and the Boys and Girls Clubs are doing to improve student achievement through developing proficient reading skills."
