Posts Tagged ‘Running Start for School’

2009 Running Start for School

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

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This year was a phenomenal year for the Running Start for School initiative.

With the help of over 250 volunteers and over 100 community partners, we distributed school supplies to 2,240 students in Olmsted County! That’s a 12% increase over last year and a 95% success rate this year (total number of students registered: 2,361/ total number of students that picked up their supplies: 2,240).

We distributed school supplies during six days in July and August at three locations throughout Olmsted County.boy-with-backpack

Longfellow students received their school supplies on July 23 or 28, Byron students received their school supplies on August 19 (new distribution location this year) and all other Olmsted County students received their school supplies on August 26, 27 and 28 at the United Way building.

We helped 867 families get the school supplies their children need to be successful in school this year.

Thanks to all United Way staff and volunteers that helped to make this year’s Running Start for School initiative a great success. A special thanks to our Running Start for School Intern, Nathan Watson, for the remarkable dedication, creativity, and excellence that he brought to his position and United Way this summer

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A Year’s Running Start

Friday, August 7th, 2009
Peggy Mannino with Running Start Coordinator Nathan Watson

Peggy Mannino (r) with Running Start Coordinator Nathan Watson

Home Federal will be campaigning to collect school supplies from employees and willing patrons through August 21. Donations will be passed on to Running Start for School; a program that provides free school supplies for students of need in Olmsted County.

Home Federal’s decision to support Running Start for School was inspired by Peggy Maninno who has been collecting school supplies throughout the year. “Its hard to not get school supplies when the deals are so good and it helps so much” says Peggy. She has collected an array of over 50 backpacks and multiple cases of notebooks. Peggy arrived to the Casual for Cause kick-off carrying a box full of crayons, markers and glue sticks.

Peggy’s husband and Home Federal vice-president for corporate affairs, Al Maninno couldn’t be happier to start the collection of school supplies; but that’s not all they’re collecting. Casual for Cause also raises funds by having employees donate money to wear jeans to work, which is then donated to local causes.

Amidst the employees dressed in “Live United” t-shirts were smiles and excitement for collecting school supplies, but much more prevalent was the understanding of why they’re collecting. The number of students in need is growing larger every year. This year, there are over 6,000 students eligible for free school supplies in Olmsted County alone. United Way’s Running Start for School uses partnerships with local business like Home Federal Bank to provide for students. Running Start is planning on distributing 2,500 backpacks, over 13,000 notebooks and about 25,000 pencils to students this year.

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Peggy joined by other Home Federal Employees

 

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Posted in "How I Live United", Education, Events, Living United, People | No Comments »