In support of the new pre-k through 8 elementary school being built in Caribou, Progressive Realty is pledging $100 for every sale that closes through the real estate office in 2019.
“We thought this would be a great way to help give back to the community, to support the school department, and to help with the fundraising efforts to lessen the local contribution to the construction costs of the extra gymnasium and larger music room,” Associate Broker Arik Jepson said in a press release.
The new school is directly across from the Progressive Realty office on Bennett Drive.
“This new building will be a great addition to the community, allow for exciting new educational opportunities and is literally being built right in front of us,” Jepson said. “We feel this is a perfect opportunity to give back. Nothing is more than important the education of the kids in our community.”
The staff at Progressive Realty are no strangers to education.
Jepson himself is an 8th grade teacher at Caribou Middle School and his grandmother and great aunt were both teachers in Caribou for many years, including during the opening of the recently closed Hilltop School.
Also, newly licensed Sales Agent Michelle Blackstone is a special education teacher for the Central Aroostook Association in Presque Isle. Broker/Owner Cathy Cullins’ late-father, Gerry Duffy, was a long time teacher/coach at Caribou High School.
“With the Progressive family having such a personal connection to education, we understand it is such an extremely, important pillar in our community,” Cullins said in the release. “Families looking to move to the area will often ask about our local schools. It has been great sharing with those looking to relocate that we will have a new, state-of-the-art elementary school in just a few years.”
The group Friends of Caribou Schools, co-chaired by Sam Collins and Ron Willey, also is fundraising to assist with the local cost associated with the construction of the new school above and beyond what is being provided by the Maine Department of Education. For more information and to donate, visit online: www.rsu39.org/new-k-8-elementary.
“Our hope is that other businesses in the community can create their own fundraising campaign to also help give back. If many local businesses developed a simple fundraiser to contribute to the school project, we can really show that education is important to students who will be attending this new school,” said Cullins.
