United Way drive collects thousands of school supplies, and over $14,000 for needy kids
The 11th Annual Town of Palm Beach United Way School Supply Drive collected $14,155 and thousands of school supplies to benefit children in need.
A total of 14,781 items — including pencils, pens, crayons, markers, notebooks, erasers, backpacks, folders and binders — were donated during the drive, which ran July 23 through Aug. 6.
The supplies were distributed Friday to Town of Palm Beach United Way partner agencies — the American Association of Caregiving Youth, Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, and Opportunity Early Learning Center — for the children they serve.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Palm Beach community for its support of our annual school supply drive,” said Richard Rothschild, general campaign chairman, in a statement. “The donations we collect benefit hundreds of low-income students in Palm Beach County whose parents struggle to make ends meet, and often times have to sacrifice other needs to purchase supplies for their children.”
Families are expected to spend more on school supplies this year than ever before, according to the National Retail Federation. Because of higher prices and longer shopping lists, families are expected to spend an average of $890 per household on school supplies, a new record, according to the federation.
“We are so grateful to everyone who donated to the school supply drive,” said Ali Eger, executive director of Opportunity. “Our young children will use the supplies at school, while our graduating students will begin kindergarten with all of the items on their elementary school’s supply list, which would not otherwise be possible for most. The generosity of the donors will remove the burden of worry from hard-working low-income parents and let them focus on their children.”
The three organizations each will receive a check for $3,000 to go toward the purchase of supplies. The remaining cash donations will be divided evenly among Achievement Centers for Children and Families, Families First, Farmworker Coordinating Council, Take Stock in Children and YWCA. These organizations also are United Way partner agencies.
“The cash donations are wonderful because many of our children do not have school and art supplies at home, so this will allow us to send some home with the children, enabling them to complete school projects and practice what they have learned in the classroom,” Eger said.
Annual logo contest
For the second consecutive year, the school supply drive featured a logo contest, which asked students 18 and under to submit a drawing depicting the event, including a brief description of what they created and why.
The winning design was created by Isabella Cote, 14, of Royal Palm Beach. The mixed-media design features animals native to Florida. Her design will serve as next year’s logo, and she will also receive a $200 Amazon gift card.
A total of 13 children participated in the contest. Students whose designs were not selected received a $20 Amazon gift card.
The school supply drive is conducted in collaboration with the Palm Beach Daily News and Palm Beach Fire Rescue.
SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE DONORS
WEEK 3 (Aug. 4–11)
Yardley ApplebyThomas J. Barone, CPACarrie Bradburn | CAPEHARTTimothy Davidson and Jana HesserJoan K. EigenCarol HerzKarliene LouieClyde and Diane McNealDr. Giselle Anna ParryPatt and Bill SnedSusan O. TaylorPhyllis Verducci
WEEK 2 (July 28–Aug. 3)
Linda and Skip AldridgeDr. and Mrs. Michael AndrewsMargaret and Jay AxelrodWarren BelmarKaren and David BramsDenise BudnitzKathy DelaneyFindlay GalleriesFirst HorizonMr. and Mrs. Mark E. FreitasMaged and Amani GaballaEdith GelfandSue GibsonKimberly and Scott GoodwinGail A. LevineMorgan StanleyLenore Orlowska-WarrenPalm Beach Fellowship of Christians & JewsMr. and Mrs. James E. PalmerJoanne PolozkerNancy Gofberg and Ron RisnerMr. and Mrs. Charles L. SlaterThomas and Alice SmithMarty StratonNorma and Bill TiefelTrish TranDebra VasilopoulosPam and Dick WilliamsErica Zangrillo
WEEK 1 (July 23-28)
Mrs. Jack BassThe Brekus FamilyBrad and Maggie CliftonGail ConiglioGruber Consulting EngineersJ. Ira and Nicki Harris Family FoundationCarol C. HickmanSheila and Bob JosephbergJeff KoonsChong and Gabrielle LuoJean MeisenzahlNancy M. MorrisseyMr. and Mrs. Sean R. O’BannonJoyce ReingoldM. Elizabeth RogersBarbara and Richard RothschildJ. David and Anita SeayLinda SirisEllen VaughanJim and Beth WaltonMr. and Mrs. Donald WarrenMr. and Mrs. Jerry V. WilkeyChad and Lisa WilkinsonSusan and Bob Wright
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: United Way drive collects thousands of school supplies
