O. Perry Walker Alum and Denver Businessman Helps with School Recovery by Making Financial Donation

Rick Fort to present $15,000 check to Walker Charter School

June 7, 2007
David Grubb

New Orleans, La – When New Orleans native and Denver businessman Rick Fort saw the devastation Katrina caused to his beloved city, he looked for some way to make a difference and ease the pain to his old community. As the founder of the Denver-based Education Sales Management (ESM), Fort was deeply concerned about the damage to the city’s schools and the impact on its students and teachers.

Since ESM is dedicated to improving people’s lives through education, Fort’s employees decided to pitch in and raise money for New Orleans schools. ESM matched their contributions dollar for dollar. Now Fort, a member of O. Perry Walker High School’s first graduating class in 1971, is coming home to present a check for $15,000 to the Algiers Charter Schools Association in a ceremony at O. Perry Walker High School at 9:00am on Wednesday June 13. Mary Laurie, the school’s principal, will accept the donation on behalf of school.

“This is what we talk about when we use the words ‘Charger Pride’,” said Ms. Laurie.  “The rebirth of O. Perry Walker will not only be the product of our teachers and students, but of those alums, that Walker lost along the way, who return home in some way to make a difference.  We proudly accept this donation, because we believe it represents all of those past Chargers who see that Walker is again becoming a place that they can all be proud of.”

“Thanks to people like Mary Laurie, this school is a truly great success story, as witnessed by their incredible 96 percent graduation rate this year,” said Fort. “It is a tribute to the pride in the community demonstrated by the parents, teachers and students. I am proud that ESM could play a small role in their success.”  

Dr. Brian Riedlinger, ACSA’s CEO added, “This shows that ACSA, in general, and O. Perry Walker in particular is creating a ‘community school.’  Where that community begins and ends, we hope to continue to expand with the help and support of people like Mr. Fort, who can help us tell the amazing story of what’s going on here at Walker.”

About Education Sales Management, LLC (ESM)

Education Sales Management, established in 1995, is a customer contact center focused exclusively on the education marketplace. From its headquarters in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, ESM helps people improve their lives through education and helps institutions enroll qualified students. ESM’s highly trained consultants use sophisticated call center operations to deliver rapid, cost-effective lead processing, high connect rates, and stronger conversion rates. To learn more about ESM, visit http://www.Education-Sales.net.