Crayons to Calculators School Supply Drive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:

Kathy Hall, Executive Director

Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley

303-807-2574 (cell)    hall.kathy.efsvv@comcast.net    www.efsvv.org

Crayons to Calculators drive gets underway to provide school supplies for students throughout St. Vrain Valley schools

Longmont, CO – June 11, 2012 - There are over 8,500 children in the St. Vrain Valley School District on the federal lunch assistance program, a common indicator of family poverty.  Many of these children routinely start school without basic school supplies for learning. 

Last year, through the Crayons to Calculators program, the Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley provided approximately 3,100 backpacks to ensure that an increasing number of our students have the supplies they need to succeed.  This year’s goal is to provide at least 3,200 backpacks to St. Vrain Valley students in need at all grade levels by the time school starts in August.  Community support for this program is critical.

“Economic challenges continue for more and more families,” says Kathy Hall, Executive Director of the Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley.  “In a time when more students need help donations are harder to come by.  Our major sponsors, Western Disposal and Staples, have continued their strong support for this important program, and community members and businesses throughout our school district are encouraged to follow their lead.  It is now more important than ever to help students get a good start in school each year.  All of our futures depend on them.”  

Crayons to Calculators invites businesses, community members and organizations to ‘adopt a student’ and fill a backpack, or to donate cash that is used to purchase backpacks and school supplies at cost. Businesses and churches are encouraged to hold local site drives.  Volunteers are needed to pack backpacks in early August.  Donation sites for supplies will be available in all communities throughout the district beginning in early July or supplies can be dropped off at the Education Foundation’s office at 820 Main Street in Longmont through the month of July. More information on how to participate can be found on the program’s website www.CrayonstoCalculators.org or by calling Jeanne Sampsell at 720-652-8208.

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ABOUT Crayons to Calculators – This program, started in 2005, is a collaborative annual school supply drive sponsored by Western Disposal, with support from Staples, local businesses, churches and non-profit organizations and thousands of individuals.  This year it is gearing up to provide over 8,000 school supply backpacks to students in Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley public schools in August.  Together, the two school districts have more than 15,000 students on the federal lunch assistance program, a common indicator of family poverty. 

Crayons to Calculators is a collaborative partnership between Impact on Education, I Have A Dream Foundation of Boulder County, Sister Carmen Community Center, Foothills United Way, and the Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley for the benefit of the Boulder Valley School District, and the St. Vrain Valley School District.  Last year, Crayons to Calculators provided 7,335 students with a backpack of school supplies.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION - The Education Foundation for the St. Vrain Valley, an independent 501 (c)(3) organization, was founded in 1985. Our mission is to provide resources and educational opportunities, in partnership with St. Vrain Valley Schools and our local communities, to enhance student success and teacher excellence. Our goal is to supplement the traditional education experience in ways that maximize the effectiveness of teachers and result in enhanced achievement in an increasingly complex and competitive worldwide environment.  Since inception, the Foundation has made awards totaling approximately $1.5 million.