For the Gazette
STEVENS POINT – Worzalla congratulated the winners of their Reel It In For Reading ice fishing competition and announced their $1,500 donation to support the Portage County Literacy Council (PCLC). Worzalla’s donation will go towards PCLC’s one-on-one tutoring and small group instruction programs.

The winners of the second annual Reel It In For Reading ice fishing competition are:

-First-place: Mike Jurgella of Stevens Point won $200 and an additional $100 for being the Worzalla associate with the largest catch. Jurgella’s catch measured 30.5 inches.

-Second-place: Evan Platz of Wisconsin Rapids won $150.

-Third-place: Brady Jackan of Wisconsin Rapids won $100.

As the first-place winner of the Reel It In For Reading Competition, Jurgella also won the honor of selecting the Washington Elementary School Library to receive a $500 donation from Worzalla. Jurgella says that he chose this library because the school works with children who need a little extra help.

In the newly added Youth prize category, the winner is Collin Lockman of Bancroft, who won the $100 cash prize. Lockman’s catch measured 22 inches. Brookelyn Petruzalek of Stevens Point won the second-place prize of $50.

“At Worzalla, we believe literacy is a valuable skill that everyone in our community deserves access to,” said Brianne Petruzalek, Vice President of Human Resources at Worzalla. “We are excited to see our community come together to support the Portage County Literacy Council and the resources they put in our community.”

The PCLC works with adults across the county who come from different socioeconomic and racial/ethnic backgrounds to help them read, write, and speak English.

“Worzalla’s donation will help make literacy and education more accessible to adults in the area,” said Kristy SeBlonka, Co-Director at Portage County Literacy Council. ““Worzalla has been a consistent partner in supporting our mission, and we want to thank every Central Wisconsin resident that participated in this year’s ice fishing contest!”

Worzalla’s Reel It In For Reading donations are just one of many initiatives they have launched to support literacy efforts throughout the community. Worzalla’s extensive community outreach includes donating books to libraries and schools, sponsoring literacy and learning events, participating in community-wide fundraisers and charity events, and printing a variety of popular children’s books including the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. More information is available at Worzalla.com.