GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Aspiro in Green Bay continues to thrive and make progress following a fire in their parking lot that completely destroyed four of their buses in late February. After working hard to rebuild, and accepting the public’s generosity, Aspiro had a big announcement to make on Monday.
Aspiro is a Green Bay area organization that supports people with disabilities and provides them with resources to live their best lives. They help individuals reach their goals, connect them to the community, and more.
The buses are used on a daily basis to take clients to work, volunteer opportunities, community outings, business tours, and more.
After about 1/3 of their bus fleet was destroyed on February 28, a Go Fund Me was set up; allowing for individuals and area businesses and organizations to help make a different for Aspiro.
On Monday morning, Nicole Hoffman, Vice President of Development at Aspiro, announced that they had raised $484 thousand; enough to replace the four destroyed buses.
“We have two [buses] ordered right now, and we are just awaiting a delivery date,” said Hoffman. “We will then proceed with purchasing the second two buses.”
The first two buses are coming from the company Best Bus based out of Illinois.
PMI Entertainment Group was one business that made a considerable donation to Aspiro.
“Our company donated $60 thousand to the bus fund,” said Terry Charles, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications for PMI Entertainment Group. “The entertainment crowd has come back to our business so we’ve had a good year. We’re thrilled to be in a position to make a difference for this company.”
But buses aren’t the only new thing coming to Aspiro; the organization is purchasing security cameras that are aimed towards where the buses are parked to ensure something like this never happens again. The new buses will also be getting catalytic converter cages.
A fifth bus also caught fire on February 28, but may be salvageable. This bus has heat damage and a broken out window from the heat.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Aspiro says they’re expecting the fire marshal’s report at the end of the month.
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