MOOSEHEART, IL - By definition, an "ongoing relationship" is one that started at some point and has no end in sight.

That's the way Mooseheart's relationship exists with the Sam's Club warehouse store in Batavia. Mooseheart has done considerable business at the store for years, and the relationship continues to grow - and it grew again on Friday, June 12, when Sam's Club presented a grant check for $1,000 to Mooseheart Executive Director Scott Hart.

"Mooseheart's had a history with Sam's Club in Batavia since it's opened up," Hart said. "Their first donation into the community was to Mooseheart. They donated $1,000 and some computers for our homes. We've had a good partnership with them over the years."

Paul Stratta, Membership Assistant Manager at the Batavia Sam's Club made the formal presentation to Hart. Sam's Club is a nationwide chain of membership-based stores that sell food and other goods. It is owned and operated by Wal-Mart, and the grant came through Wal-Mart.

"Wal-Mart has a foundation for community involvement," Stratta said. "They give a budget to all Wal-Mart stores and all Sam's Club stores to give to the community throughout the year. This was part of our first quarter community involvement."

Mooseheart's Family Homes are now doing their shopping in the community since the closure of the campus' Central Kitchen facility in late March.
As part of the changeover, Hart went to Sam's Club to discuss membership for various Family Homes. On the wall were a series of grant checks, and Hart inquired about how Mooseheart might be able to join that list.

"Our kids and our Family Teachers are out shopping at local businesses, including Sam's Club," Hart said. "They're looking for great deals for food and they're in and out of that store all the time. Now when they walk in there, they'll see all the gifts Sam's Club has made to the local community and they'll see that Sam's Club continues to support Mooseheart, which is a great thing."

As much as Mooseheart appreciates what they receive from Sam's Club, Stratta said he loves being able to give something back to Mooseheart.
"I think this is an outstanding facility, the way that it operates," Stratta said. "I look at the relationship, and I think it's great that Sam's can offer a value so they can stretch the dollars for the homes purchasing for their households."

While the $1,000 grant something that can take place once a year, Stratta said there may be other small ways in which Sam's Club can help. And he said there is always the chance for a further grant check in 2010 and beyond.

"Unfortunately we can only do one check a year to each organization," Stratta said. "But we have monthly donations and we break that down to $25 gift cards, which might help them buy drinks for an event that might be happening on campus. But definitely this is an ongoing relationship. They're so close and this is a great cause."

Mooseheart Child City & School is a 1,000-acre community and school for children and teens in need of a secure home, located just south of Batavia , IL , between Illinois Route 31 and Randall Road .
  
Founded in 1913, Mooseheart is supported completely through private donations - the great majority of which come from the 1.1 million men and women of the Moose fraternal organization, in more than 1,800 Lodges and 1,600 Chapters located throughout the U.S. , Canada , Great Britain and Bermuda . Moose International headquarters is located on the Mooseheart campus.
  
Since its founding, Mooseheart has operated a complete, accredited kindergarten-through-high-school academic program, plus art, music, vocational training and interscholastic sports. It is an extremely nurturing and student-tailored program, with an average student-teacher ratio of 12-1.
  
Mooseheart students who complete their studies with a 3.0 GPA or better (4.0=A) are eligible for up to five years of annually renewable scholarship funding, covering tuition, room and board in an amount comparable to that required for an in-state student at an Illinois public university.
  
Mooseheart is currently home to nearly 230 students, ranging in age from preschoolers to high school seniors. Applications for admission to Mooseheart are considered from any family whose children are, for whatever reason, lacking a stable home environment. Mooseheart boasts its own U.S. Post Office and a fully functioning branch of Fifth Third Bank.
  
In addition to Mooseheart, Moose International also supports Moosehaven, a 70-acre retirement community near Jacksonville , FL founded in 1922; and conducts more than $90 million worth of community service programs annually.
  
Founded in 1888, the Moose organization has long offered its members an opportunity to do good for others while celebrating life, with family, social, and sporting activities. For more information on the Moose organization, visit the websites at www.Mooseintl.org and www.Mooseheart.org or call 630-966-2229.