Each year, the top students in the eighth grade class at Alliance Middle School have the opportunity to visit Washington DC during a four day trip. During the parent meeting held at AMS on April 13, the families received quite a surprise when they found out Jim and Kathy Stout would be paying for the remaining cost of the trip.
The founder and owner of Coastal Pet Products, Jim Stout, received a letter from the trip coordinator, Keith McGeehen, asking for donations. He was interested in learning more about the trip and what it would entail for the students, so he requested a meeting. After hearing about the experiences the students would have during the trip, he and his wife, Kathy, decided to pay for the remainder of the trip for all the students who would be attending.
“Alliance Middle School would like to thank the Stouts for their generosity for our eighth grade Washington DC trip,” said Troy Russel, Principal of AMS. “Their very gracious donation is greatly appreciated by the staff, students and families.”
The students spend the year taking part in various fundraisers to help lower the cost of the trip. The amount left over after students finish the fundraisers is the amount the families need to pay out of pocket. The generous donation from the Stout family ensures that all student costs will be covered and the families will only need to provide money for souvenirs.
“The greater Alliance community is filled with business and industry leaders who are supportive of our schools,” said Rob Gress, superintendent of Alliance City Schools. “The Stout family is a great example of this. We appreciate this gift and we look forward to a meaningful and educational trip for our 8th graders.”
A number of other community organizations have generously donated to this year’s trip including Goris Properties, Alliance Ventures, Traps Sporting Goods, Alliance Elks #467, Morgan Engineering, Elite Flooring and Countertops, Dr. David Mungo, Trilogy Plastics and Fidelity Collections.