Local Children to Receive
Free New School Uniforms, Supplies at Assistance
League of Greater Cincinnati Sept. 14.
Operation School Bell to serve more than 1,000 needy
school children in the Tristate this year
Cincinnati, OH – September 12, 2005 – About
1,250 underserved children from the Tristate area
will receive new clothing, shoes and supplies they
need to start the school year through the Assistance
League of Greater Cincinnati’s (ALGC) philanthropic
program, Operation School Bell®.
Since Operation School Bell first began in Greater
Cincinnati, more than 4,250 local needy children
have been served. Today the ALGC chapter will be
joining other Assistance League chapters across the
country distributing items to thousands of needy
children.
ALGC will be showcasing this program on Wednesday,
September 14, from 9 to 11 a.m. with 50 children
from Winton Hills Academy. Children from kindergarten
to the fourth grade will be transported to ALGC’s
Ruth Prall Center at 4527 Reading Road to receive
$85 worth of clothing, including brand new school
uniforms with polo shirts, pants, socks and athletic
shoes. They will also receive a lunch box and personal
toiletries kit.
“Our mission is to provide these children
in need with new clothes and supplies so they not
only feel
better about themselves but also about going to and
staying in school,” said Audrey Stehle, ALGC
president. “Studies have shown that children
who attend school inappropriately dressed are at
a disadvantage and that proper school clothing can
improve school attendance and help classroom performance.
Operation School Bell helps children arrive in the
classroom better prepared to learn.”
Funding for Operation School Bell comes from private
donations, an ALGC direct mail program and grants,
including a $40,000 grant from the Dater Foundation.
Appearance Plus Cleaners will again be donating its
tailoring services to hem uniform pants. Other sponsors
are Kuhl’s Hot Sportspot, Riddell Footwear
and Justice & Young Public Relations.
“It is gratifying for us to participate
in Operation School Bell again this year and to be
involved in
a program that positively benefits the lives of so
many needy children in our community,” said
Jon Lindy, CEO of Appearance Plus Cleaners. “With
Operation School Bell giving them the essential new
clothes and supplies they need, these children can
head back to school with a little extra help that
can go a long way in influencing how they feel about
themselves.”
The Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky public and parochial
schools participating in this year’s program
are as follows: AMIS; AP Owens; Chase; Elmwood Place;
Fourth Street; Heberle; Lincoln Heights; Mildred
Dean; Roberts Paideia; Rothenberg; St. Bernard; St.
Francis de Sales; St. Francis Seraph; St. Joseph’s;
Washington Park; and Westwood. The children have
been pre-identified through arrangements made with
local social workers and counselors.
ALGC is one of 110 chapters across the country that
will be holding similar events. Through their combined
efforts, Operation School Bell serves more than 160,000
children across the country, and has provided much
needed services for more than one million children
over the past 15 years.The Assistance League of Greater
Cincinnati develops, funds and staffs philanthropic
projects that members have identified after conducting
a community needs assessment. Local philanthropic
projects include: literacy and tutorial programs;
services and programs for seniors; dental, optical
and hearing programs for needy children; survivor
kits for victims of domestic violence; and other
targeted community programs that have assisted more
than 350,000 people. The efforts of 110 Assistance
League chapters throughout the country have returned
an astounding $26 million to local communities and
have touched the lives of more than one million men,
women and children each year. Assistance League Chapters
are 100 percent volunteer run with 24,000 members
giving the gift of community service.
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Contact:
Jeff Drum, Account Executive
Justice & Young Advertising and Public Relations
513.388.4700 x3012
jdrum@jypublicrelations.com
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