For the third year in a row, Mike Jackson of Vogel’s and Foster’s, designated Black Friday weekend as Chelsea Gold weekend and made a donation earlier this week to the Chelsea District Schools.
He’s taken the lead in town encouraging other businesses to designate either a portion of their sales that weekend or to pick a set amount during the year and budget for it, then donate that money to the general fund of the school district.
When asked why he chose to do it, Jackson said, “It just makes sense. It helps my business and it helps the schools.”
Plus, he said, his children attended Chelsea Schools and having good schools is important to the community as a whole.
Designating a special weekend also acts as “a reminder to teachers, students, administrators and parents to shop here,” Jackson said, explaining that the donation serves as a thank you to the schools for supporting his business.
Both Jackson and Andy Ingall, superintendent of the Chelsea District Schools, agree that a vibrant shopping district contributes to a great school system and vice versa.
“Our school district benefits from a thriving local business and retail environment,” said Ingall.
In fact, Jackson increased the amount he contributed this year.
Ingall said the business community and the schools have a “symbiotic relationship,” and that relationship is “valuable and special.”
Ingall thanked Jackson for “his leadership in supporting our schools and for his generous donation.”
Jackson had a sale that weekend and has a big sale going on now on fall and winter items before the spring line comes in.
