News Release
September 23, 2005
Denver Public Schools Foundation School Supply Drive Fills Over 160 Boxes For Houston Schools
In response to the devastations of Hurricane Katrina, the Denver Public Schools Foundation (DPS Foundation), along with several other educational foundations throughout the metro area, helped implement a massive "Kids Helping Kids" school supply drive over the last three weeks. Each educational foundation asked students and schools throughout their respective districts to collect school supplies for donation to the Houston Independent School District and those students who needed them most.
The DPS Foundation conducted its drive Friday, Sept. 9 through Monday, Sept. 19, giving DPS students one week to help collect school supplies specifically approved by the Houston School District. In total, 21 Denver schools participated in the collaborative effort and helped fill 160 boxes of much-needed school supplies. The boxes were filled with anything from crayons and spiral notebooks to stuffed animals, toys, and hand-written notes. A student from Godsman Elementary School even collected $1.65 in nickels to donate to the drive which in turn was given to the American Red Cross.
"The overall objective of the campaign was to not only to collect essential school supplies for distressed children but encourage our own students to get involved in the process and empower them with the spirit of giving," said Patricia Sterner, interim CEO for the DPS Foundation. "The campaign yielded a wonderful response from Denver students and we thank them for reaching out to those children who have experienced such loss over the last month."
The 21 schools that participated are: Brown, Carson, Cheltenham, Colfax, Fairview, Godsman, Johnson, Knapp, Lowry, McKinley-Thatcher, McMeen, Polaris at Ebert, Schenck, Smedley, Steele, University Park and Valdez elementary schools; Dora Moore and Garden Place Academy K-8 Schools; Manual Leadership High School; and Pioneer Charter School.
A number of Denver schools organized their own disaster relief efforts by hosting fundraising events and/or collecting additional supplies for donation to the Salvation Army, American Red Cross or another agency of their choice.
The overall relief effort was coordinated through the Colorado Consortium of Education Foundations including Cherry Creek Schools Foundation, Community Education Foundation District 50, Denver Public Schools Foundation, Douglas County Educational Foundation, Englewood Education Foundation, The Jefferson Foundation, Littleton Public Schools Foundation, Mapleton Education Foundation, and several other school districts.
For additional information, contact Kirstin Gerety with the DPS Foundation at 720.423.3877 or kgerety@dpsfoundation.org.
ABOUT THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
The Denver Public Schools Foundation exists to support the schools and programs of Denver Public Schools. The Foundation actively raises funds in the community to meet the ever-growing and unique educational needs of more than 72,000 students within the district. Funding primarily goes to support quality after school programs that focus on arts, athletics, and extended academics. Such programs lead to improved attitudes towards school, better work habits, increased attendance, and improved grades and test scores. For more information, visit www.dpsfoundation.org.
For information, contact Kirstin Gerety, Denver Public Schools Foundation, 720-423-3877 or kgerety@dpsfoundation.org.