Gus Bus Ninth in Contest, But Might Lose Its Program
January 21, 2010 • By Danielle Strickler,
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HARRISONBURG, Va. — After finishing in ninth place in the Clorox “Power a Bright Future” contest, the local Gus Bus may have to come off the road and close its doors to helping local children in low-income neighborhoods.
In order to win $10,000, money the program was counting on to stay on the road, the Gus Bus had to finish in the top five in the competition.
More than 3,000 votes were cast on a Facebook application through Jan. 17, according to Pat Kennedy, director of early literacy initiatives.
The Bus is part of JMU’s Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services.
The fifth place winner had more than 12,000 votes.
“That money was going to be used for gas and other necessities,” Kennedy said. “Now, we have maybe five months left with the money we have now.”
But she is staying optimistic about the bus, which is part of the Reading Road Show.
“I’m writing to grants, pulling for community support; we’ve been in situations like this before, and we have managed to get the money to keep the bus on the road,” Kennedy said.
As it visits more than 40 neighborhoods a day, “Gus” targets low-income neighborhoods where residents are learning English. It provides a safe environment for students after school, homework help and other community activities for children.
Although the bus is paid for its services in Page County, in five months the county schools will close, meaning the contract with Page will end, Kennedy said.
The Gus Bus plans to partner with United Way in Harrisonburg and Page in hopes of getting more support from the communities and getting more private grants to keep the wheels on the road.
In April, the Gus Bus is going to sponsor its annual ‘Gas the Bus,’ a month-long fundraising drive.
Contact Danielle Strickler at turnerdj@jmu.edu
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