News | Press Release
HSBC employees donated 13,216 packs of new school
supplies to benefit local school children
Rancho Cucamonga, CA (August 31, 2007) – HSBC hosted a
successful School Tools supply drive by collecting a
record-breaking 13,216 packs of new school supplies to support
low-income school children. HSBC employees delivered the
supplies, with an approximated retail value of $16,253, to the
Inland Empire United Way (IEUW) last week.
Inland Empire United Way employees and board members greeted
them at the door to thank them for their amazing donation and
continued support for the IEUW’s KidSmart initiative. Last year,
HSBC employees hosted a similar supply drive, and collected
7,000 items; but this year, they ramped up the drive, nearly
doubling their donation. With a little healthy competition to
win a pizza party at the completion, approximately 400 HSBC
employees collected a total of 13,216 items. The winning
department averaged 33 items per person.
“We [United Way] appreciate all the help that we get from
volunteers and organizations like yours,” said Kevin Baker,
representing the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
office, and also an IEUW board member. “It goes a long way to
help the students in our community.”
If more than half of students in local public schools are
enrolled in the federal free and reduced meal program, it is
unlikely that their families can afford school supplies. Recent
surveys show that devoted teachers choose to spend about $1000
of their own money to buy basic supplies including crayons and
pencils rather than seeing their students go without.
“I know it will support low-income children in our area,”
Juanita Lopez, HSBC Unit Manager. Lopez spearheaded the supply
drive and motivated the employees to get involved.
Inland Empire United Way’s School Tools provides low-income kids
with new school supplies, giving all children an opportunity to
learn and succeed. The School Tools Teacher Resource Center (TRC)
invites teachers from select schools to receive supplies for
their students and classrooms, free of charge. The TRC offers
basic school supplies, arts and crafts materials, teaching tools
and incentive items to encourage learning.
“I like to help out children in need, and [KidSmart] is a great
program and I’ll continue to support it,” said Jamil Sawaya,
HSBC collections manager. Sawaya participated in supply drive.
“I have also volunteered for the [Inland Empire United Way’s]
Kids Pack program 4 or 5 times to help pack food.”
“Inland Empire United Way is thankful for the recent supply
drives hosted by HSBC, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, and Victoria
Gardens,” said Lorraine Ousley, KidSmart Director at Inland
Empire United Way. “All of the School Tools supply drives
directly benefit underprivileged children, ensuring they come to
school equipped with the necessary tools to learn.”
The School Tools Teacher Resource Center (TRC) invites teachers
from select schools to receive supplies for their students and
classrooms, free of charge. During the 2006-07 school year, more
than 400 teachers visited the School Tools TRC, and nearly
$200,000 worth of new school supplies were distributed to
approximately 11,600 local students.
Current schools eligible to participate in the program include:
Fontana Unified School District (Almond Elementary, Juniper
Elementary, Maple Elementary, Poplar Elementary, Tokay
Elementary, Ted Porter Elementary), Chino Valley Unified School
District (Richard Gird Elementary), Cucamonga School District
(Cucamonga Elementary, Los Amigos Elementary), Pomona Unified
School District (Arroyo Elementary, Kellogg Polytechnic
Elementary, Westmont Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Mendoza
Elementary), and Upland Unified School District (Baldy View
Elementary, Cabrillo Elementary, Citrus Elementary, Upland
Elementary).
As the program grows and resources allow, other eligible schools
will be invited to receive supplies. Eligible schools have 70%
or more students enrolled in the federal free and reduced meal
program. To learn how you can sponsor a school in your area or
donate product, contact
Fran Robertson, KidSmart Development Manager at (909)
980-2857 ext. 232.
Contact:
Lorraine Ousley,
KidSmart Director, Inland Empire United Way, (909) 980-2857 ext.
203
Inland Empire United Way (IEUW)
The Inland Empire United Way (IEUW)’s KidSmart
Initiative improves the lives of underprivileged children by
ensuring they come to school well fed, ready to learn, and
equipped with tools to learn and succeed. KidSmart partners with
schools, companies, organizations and volunteers to accomplish
this goal through it programs; Kids Pack, Kids Cafe and School
Tools. IEUW engages a caring community to respond to human need
by helping disadvantaged kids succeed in school, providing easy
access to health and social services, developing opportunities
for volunteers to create positive change, and strengthening
financial stability opportunities for low-income families and
individuals.
Learn
how to host a supply drive!
www.ieuw.org
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