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Omro business nominated for hurricane relief efforts

Ken Korsch had to pinch himself to make sure it was real.

He couldn't quite believe the classroom furniture business he owns - National School Lines in Omro - was nominated for an American Spirit Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The nomination is for his donation of 1,000 school desks and chairs worth about $120,000 to schools in Pass Christian, Miss., which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Korsch drove to Pass Christian in mid-February to visit students and teachers and to see the hurricane destruction firsthand.

"They absolutely caught me by surprise," Korsch said of the nomination. "It's humbling and I'm still kind of in shock. We didn't do the donation for any type of award."

The American Spirit Award will honor a small business for voluntary efforts in terms of money, goods and their time to help those impacted by the three Gulf Coast hurricanes - Katrina, Wilma and Rita.

National School Lines is one of eight nominees for the award in the volunteer category. The winner should be announced within the next two weeks.

John Martin, of the Small Business Administration in Atlanta, Ga., said the SBA nominated National School Lines after reading a story in The Northwestern about Korsch's generous donation and follow-up trip to Pass Christian.

"We felt they would be a great candidate for the award. It's a very strong nomination," Martin said. "It's great to give money and goods, but the fact that he went down to Mississippi to meet with teachers and students is very commendable."

After Hurricane Katrina, Korsch went to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's web site and left a note saying that he'd like to make a donation. School officials from Pass Christian contacted him about their desperate need for equipment.

Korsch had a poignant moment with one student in particular after he arrived at a school in Pass Christian. He met Kiana Welch, 14, who had previously written Korsch a letter thanking him for the donation of desks and chairs. She gave Korsch a hug.

"It was a neat feeling that we could make a difference in the lives of people who live 1,800 miles from Omro," said Korsch, who has owned National School Lines for five years.

Korsch said nomination for the American Spirit Award is a "tip of the hat" to the 20 employees of his business and also to the Omro community. Student volunteers from Omro High School helped assemble, box and load school desks, chairs and other donations for delivery by truck to Pass Christian.

National School Lines is no stranger to awards. The business won a 2003 Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award for its social impact on the community.

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