The donation was contributed in equal amounts by two local National Gypsum facilities — $17,500 from the Quarry Plant led by David Gollob and $17,500 from the Gold Bond Plant led by Mark Dyer.

This contribution will help fund the creation of a health occupations lab at Fort Dodge Middle School, supporting the district’s health occupations class and its mission to introduce students to careers in the health care field.

The lab will provide students with hands-on experiences, preparing them for potential careers in health care while fostering an interest in science, technology, engineering art and math.

“National Gypsum’s support helps us take a significant step forward in creating engaging, real-world learning opportunities for our students,” said Josh Porter, superintendent of the Fort Dodge Community School District.

“The health occupations lab will inspire our students and equip them with foundational skills for the health care field, opening doors to a variety of career pathways,” he added. “We deeply appreciate National Gypsum’s commitment to our community and its investment in the future of our students.”

National Gypsum’s Giving Tuesday initiative donated $1 million to 42 schools and non-profits in the United States and Canada.