PeopleNet renews Trucker Buddy’s school grant program

user-gravatar Headshot
Trucker Buddy announced PeopleNet has renewed the School Supply Program, which offers grants for teachers paired with drivers in the Trucker Buddy program.Trucker Buddy announced PeopleNet has renewed the School Supply Program, which offers grants for teachers paired with drivers in the Trucker Buddy program.

Trucker Buddy International has announced PeopleNet has agreed to renew its sponsorship for the School Supply Program, which offers grants totaling $6,000 for Trucker Buddy classrooms.

This is the second year PeopleNet has donated to allow for the grants for the classrooms.

“Last year, PeopleNet came to us and wanted to be involved more in the Trucker Buddy program,” said Randy Schwartzenburg, executive director of Trucker Buddy. “We bounced around some ideas, and we knew one need was for teachers needing more money for their classrooms. PeopleNet donated $6,000, and we were able to give 12 grants worth $500 each.”

Schwartzenburg said the money can be used for school supplies and equipment for the classrooms partnered with Trucker Buddy.

To be qualified for the grants, the teachers and classes must be matched with a current Trucker Buddy driver, then submit an application.

“We’ve been a long-time supporter of Trucker Buddy and continue to applaud the program for its commitment to improving educational environments for children,” said Bev Mestelle, vice president of talent for PeopleNet.

K C Brau, a driver partnered with Trucker Buddy since 1999 and Trucker Buddy president, said drivers get as much out of the program as the children.

“A lot of drivers keep a brag book with all the letters and pictures the kids send them,” he said. “One time, they reversed the role on me and sent me a bunch of postcards of where they went on their spring breaks. They even mailed get well cards to my wife after she had a surgery. The kids will give as much as they can. If you get an active teacher and an active driver, the sky can be the limit.”

The Trucker Buddy program helps to educate and mentor school children via a pen pal relationship between professional truck drivers and children in grades K-8 as supervised by their teachers.

After an extensive screening process, truckers are matched with a class and, as directed by the teacher, drivers share news about their travels with the class. Students write letters and send pictures to their drivers as well.