Andrew Strauss, owner of RAM Excavation makes a donation to Mark Cantin, principal at St. John Community School, Wednesday morning. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Community Donation

Local business makes donation for students to enjoy the water park this summer

Jun 23, 2021 | 12:00 PM

It’s been a while since students have been able to enjoy the many facilities in our community with their family and friends.

Andrew Strauss, owner of local company RAM Excavation, is celebrating the arrival of summer by giving back to the community.

This morning, Andrew made a donation to the many students at St. John Community School. Each student will receive a free pass to the Kinsmen Water Park that can be used this summer. A total of 268 students will receive the pass, making the donation just under $1,500.

“I had come up with this idea in hopes to get some kids out to the water park that wouldn’t normally be able to go,” Strauss said.

“I thought the water park passes were a perfect way to get the students out of the house and school where they’ve been cooped up for a long time”

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Andrew is a former student of St. John School and challenges many other small business owners to give back to the community as well.

“Everybody is really excited for summer, I thought it was a really good way to give back to the community that supports us. I feel as a small business owner that is really important,” Strauss explained.

“It would be nice to see other small businesses do something similar and give back to the community in such a way that it directly benefits kids as well.”

Mark Cantin, principal of St. John Community School is very appreciative of the donation and really enjoys the idea.

“The water park is a safe place for them to be and fun place for them, so that is going to be an exciting announcement to make,” Cantin said.

“To have a former student, like Andrew step up this way means the world to us.”

Normally at the end of each school year, the school would have students go to the water park to celebrate the end of the year, but with COVID restrictions they are not. Cantin added this will be a great alternative for them.

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8