Triumph Foods donates $25,000 to St. Joseph School District for Language Development, Tech Skills

In support of advancing regional English Language Development (ELD) and technical skills, Triumph Foods is donating $25,000 to the St. Joseph School District (SJSD) – its third of four annual donations totaling $100,000.

The school district is using the funds to support multiple programs, including the ELD program, which provides interpretive services, community resources, and cultural support for students and families who come from other countries or who speak a language other than English. The district’s office strives to ensure all families have the support they need to register and enroll their children.

“As one of the largest employers in St. Joseph, we must do what we can to ensure students and families thrive here,” said Josh Kleinlein, Chief Financial Officer at Triumph Foods. “Our company’s continued contributions to hometown needs make St. Joe a better place to grow, live and work.”

The district continues seeing a steady, significant increase in English Learner students: According to 2024 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education data, SJSD has 667 English learners enrolled in its district – a 7.58% increase from 2023 alone (when 620 students were enrolled).

Since 2019, Triumph Foods has supported SJSD through donations, grants and thought leadership programs. SJSD meets annually with the company to review student impact and discuss future needs throughout the district. Triumph Foods has committed to donating another $25,000 to the district in 2026.

“We value Triumph’s donation and willingness to work with the St. Joseph School District to improve the resources and learning for our English Language Development students,” said Dr. Michelle Schulze, ELD Coordinator for the district. “Through our partnership, we are able to help ELD students learn English and be successful in our community.”

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About Triumph Foods

Triumph Foods is a leading processor of premium pork products worldwide. The farmer-owned company began operations in St. Joseph, Mo., in January 2006. With its state-of-the-art facility, Triumph employs over 2,400 workers and produces over 1.5 billion pounds of pork annually. For more information, visit triumphfoods.com.