Fundraising Idea “Percolates” To Coffee Company For IA Teachers

By Debby Stricker
Nashville resident Anthony Thoel and his fellow Freeburg High Industrial Arts teacher Matt Knake solved two delimmas with one solution: selling coffee.
Thoel explained that he and Knake were discussing different ideas on how they could obtain scholarships, apprenticeships and employment for their students. At the same time they were complaining about the quality of the generic coffee they had each morning.
What Thoel describes as a “Perfect Storm” led to the teachers creating Tradesmen Coffee, which gives a portion of the proceeds back to the students. They will provide two $500 scholarships this year, and financial support for tools that will help students gain entry into skilled trades. “We hope to increase that number each year,” said Thoel.

Read more in this week’s issue.