The following individuals were selected for the Executive Committee of Shoes and Clothes for Kids’ Associate Board for 2012:

• Craig Gutridge, Deloitte, Associate Board Co-Chair
• Stephanie Landes, Melamed Riley Adverting, Associate Board Co-Chair
• Brendan Doyle, Attorney
• Jillian Driscoll, The Council of Neighborhood Leaders
• Elizabeth Nici, Gusto Designs, LLC
• Rachel VanArsdale, Melamed Riley Advertising

Shoes and Clothes for Kids elected the following individuals to serve on the Associate Board beginning in January, 2012:

• Alyssa Balog, Cleveland Clinic
• Nicole M. Bell, The Presidents' Council Foundation
• Sam Cario, ARAMARK
• John Cavalier, Deloitte
• Nicole Cavalier, Hyland Software
• Patrick F. Gibbons, NetApp
• Lottie Gray, Recovery Resources
• Rachelle Gray, US Bank
• Carolyn Longbrake, KHM Travel Group
• Quinn McAndrew, PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Ken McIntyre, Forest City Enterprises
• Laurel Miltner, PR 20/20
• Brendan Reynolds, Cleveland Zoological Society
• Adam Russ, Frantz Ward LLP
• Patty Shipacasse, Ernst & Young, LLP
• Katherine Zollinger, Nestlé USA

 

The following individuals were elected as officers for Shoes and Clothes for Kids for 2012:

• Chair– Scott Simon, President, North Pointe Realty, Inc.
• Chair Emeritus – Allan C. Krulak
• Life Director – vic gelb, vgi inc.
• Life Director – Rockette L. Richardson, Executive Director, Campus District
• Life Director– Terence J. Uhl, Executive Vice President, Landau Public Relations
• Vice Chair - William R. Joseph, Partner, Weston Hurd
• Treasurer – A. Lamont Mackley, General Manager, Jump Start, Inc.

Shoes and Clothes for Kids elected the following individuals to serve a three year term on the Board of Directors beginning in January, 2012:

• Jeff M. Hall– Wealth Management, RBS Citizens/Charter One
• Nancy Lesic–CEO, Lesic & Camper Communications

 

Read more about why SC4K Life Director, vic gelb, is being honored. Also receiving an award at the AFP's 28th Annual National Philanthropy Day this year is SC4K Chair, Terry Uhl's daughter, Katherine. Congratulations to both of you!

 

The Cleveland Indians community outreach initiative, “Fill the House for Charity,” is a partnership between the Indians organization and 13 non-profit service agencies. Each non-profit agency has a designated Wednesday home game to celebrate and promote their mission at Progressive Field. Shoes and Clothes for Kids to raised $25,959 for their cause on July 27, 2011.

The Indians donated $5 of each ticket sold by SC4K. Also, $1 from every overall ticket sold for today’s game was donated to the Shoes and Clothes for Kids. The current in-kind donation total is $375,129 with 8 out of 13 area non-profit organization participating in Fill the House for Charity!

The Indians also provided promotional support to help raise awareness for SC4K and its event date. This included radio and TV network promotions, a webpage dedicated to Fill the House for Charity− indians.com/fillthehouse− inclusion in the game day’s Batter Up! program, a scoreboard feature showcasing the organization, various Indians autographed auction items and inclusion in pregame activities.

Included in the SC4K's pregame festivities was Ari Sherwin throwing out the ceremonial first pitch and The Robertson Family singing the national anthem.  

3311 Perkins Ave., Suite 205, Cleveland OH 44114 is the new home of the SC4K staff offices effective 6/7/11. Our phone and fax remain the same and our warehouse is still located at the Woodland Data Center.  

“For the fourth year, Moxie, the Restaurant and their staff, donated their time and talent tonight, creating a truly unique and memorable experience for our guests,” said
 

The following individuals were elected as officers for Shoes and Clothes for Kids for 2011:

• Chair – Terence J. Uhl, Executive Vice President, Landau Public Relations
• Chair Elect – Scott Simon, President, North Pointe Realty, Inc.
• Chair Emeritus – Allan C. Krulak, Vice President and Director of Community Affairs, Forest City Enterprises
• Life Director – vic gelb, vgi inc.
• Life Director – Rockette L. Richardson, Executive Director, Campus District
• Vice Chair - William R. Joseph, Partner, Weston Hurd
• Secretary – Stephanie McHenry, President-Cleveland Region, Urban Partnership Bank
• Treasurer – A. Lamont Mackley, General Manager, Jump Start, Inc.

Shoes and Clothes for Kids elected the following individuals to serve a three year term on the Board of Directors beginning in January, 2011:

• Karen Fox – Merchandise Manager, Cleveland Indians
• Jeffrey J. Kavlick –President/Co-Founder, Moreland Partners
• Joseph G. Podach – Deputy Chief of Technology and Procurement, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
• Veronica Runcis – Manager, Public Affairs, Eaton Corporation
• Judith Ulrich – Senior Vice President/Division Manager Commercial Banking, US Bank

 

Browns host Holiday Extravaganza
By Matt Florjancic, ClevelandBrowns.com Staff Writer
“It’s special, but they give us so much. They put smiles on our faces,” Mangini said. “I feel really lucky that they’re taking time out of their days to spend with us. We all get so busy around the holiday season and this says, ‘Stop, spend a couple hours with these wonderful children’ and we are just really fortunate that we have this opportunity to help the kids and have fun.”
 

Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that SC4K excels, as compared to other charities in America, in successfully managing the finances of the organization in an efficient and effective manner. According to the letter received from Ken Berger, President and CEO, Charity Navigator, “Shoes and Clothes for Kids consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Shoes and Clothes for Kids from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

In addition to receiving a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, SC4K is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, meeting all twenty of the BBB’s standards for Charity accountability. Of every dollar donated to Shoes and Clothes for Kids, $0.92 goes directly to the programs and services that benefit the children served.
 

Terry Bishop has been a volunteer on the SC4K Board of Directors since 2004 and has been an instrumental part of a number of SC4K initiatives. For several years, she has served as co-chair of SC4K’s product and services committee, hosted annual distribution partner meeting, lent Dominion’s computer lab for training sessions, participated in the annual SC4K golf outing, and dedicated a holiday tree decorated with hats and mittens to SC4K. Terry also is the champion of SC4K’s Annual Stuff the Bus for Cleveland Kids. Now in its 5th year, Terry has devoted countless hours to the planning and execution of this successful event. In addition, the Dominion Foundation has served at the event’s title sponsor since its inception.
In her spare time she enjoys time with her grandchildren and working with fire and glass through lampworking, glass fusing and creating stained glass projects. 

 

Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) unveiled a new logo and tagline today. Created pro-bono by the team at Melamed Riley Advertising SC4K’s new logo conveys several of the organizations key messages as it ventures into its 41st year of service to the Greater Cleveland Community. The image of a price tag emphasizes that SC4K is the only non-profit organization in Greater Cleveland providing brand new shoes and clothes at no charge throughout the year to thousands of children in need. Further, the price tag reinforces that all items purchased by Shoes and Clothes for Kids are brand new with the tags on them. SC4K procures a majority of its clothing items through a direct purchasing program from a network of wholesalers that sell children’s clothing at deep discounts. Shoes and Clothes for Kids is able to purchase between $20.00-$25.00 worth of brand new clothing for every $1.00 spent.

The new tagline “More than New Outfits. New Outlooks” is a nod to the impact of SC4K’s Distribution Partner network that work on our behalf to distribute to thousands of children in need; giving them the self-esteem and confidence that comes from having new shoes and clothes. SC4K’s Distribution Partner Network is comprised of of 35 social services agencies located in areas of dense poverty and includes various sites of the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association, United Pastors in Mission Churches, and a variety of Catholic social service organizations. Beyond serving the basic needs of thousands of deserving children, once in the doors, our Distribution Partners can connect these children and their families with other important programs and services working to improve and enrich their lives. These programs include food pantries, GED education programs, resale shops, job placement, Head Start, daycare, immunization, etc.

SC4K was founded in 1969 by Morrie Sayre, a Cleveland businessman who made it his mission to ensure that area children had adequate footwear. In 2010, SC4K will distribute new clothing and Payless shoe gift cards with a retail value of over $1,900,000 to 25,000 children from income-eligible families throughout Greater Cleveland. Of every dollar donated to SC4K, $0.92 goes directly to the programs and services that benefit the children served. Shoes and Clothes for Kids has achieved the coveted Charity Navigator 4-star rating for four consecutive years, an honor bestowed upon only 8% of the nations charities. 

Charter One and Shoes and Clothes for Kids will distribute 100 backpacks
filled with school supplies to children in Cleveland

CLEVELAND –

WHAT:
Charter One and Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) will conclude its Gear for Grades campaign - an initiative designed to provide new backpacks filled with school supplies to 1,000 children in Cuyahoga County - by distributing 100 of the backpacks and school supplies to children enrolled in programs at Phillis Wheatley Association in Cleveland.

WHEN: Thursday, August 12, 2010
Distribution will take place at 1 p.m.

WHERE:
Phillis Wheatley Association
4450 Cedar Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44103

WHY:
Over a three-week period, Charter One employees, customers and area residents donated pencils, folders, glue, notebooks and other new school supplies at Charter One branches in Cuyahoga County in an effort to help children go back to school with the gear they need to learn. These supplies were used to fill 1,000 new backpacks purchased by Shoes and Clothes for Kids with a grant from the Charter One Foundation. This year, more than 24,000 backpacks filled with new school supplies will be distributed to children across Charter One parent company Citizens Financial Group’s 12-state retail banking footprint.

About Charter One
Charter One is a division of RBS Citizens, N.A., operating in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. It has approximately 370 branches and 610 ATMs. It has 150 branches and 179 ATMs in Ohio. Charter One’s Web site is charterone.com.

RBS Citizens, N.A. is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $140 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. CFG’s two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 12-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). CFG’s Web site is citizensbank.com.

- 30 - 

CAVALIERS YOUTH FUND a fund of the McCormick Foundation Awards Over $225,000 in Grants for Second Quarter of 2010

CLEVELAND, OH - July 21, 2010 - The Cavaliers Youth Fund a fund of the McCormick Foundation has awarded grants to five very deserving Northeast Ohio nonprofit programs and organizations, totaling $225,000 for the second quarter of 2010. With its focus on youth-based organizations and causes, the Cavaliers Youth Fund has granted more than $20.5 million to local nonprofit organizations since its inception in 1993.

“Cleveland is a great place, with a great future ahead of it. Our young people are at the core of it all. Nothing is more important than inspiring kids in our community. The Cavaliers Youth Fund is proud to assist the programs and organizations that are making the ‘diff’ with our children,” said Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert. “Our thanks and gratitude goes out to everyone who supports this critical cause through year-round fundraising efforts and personal donations.”

These grants benefit young people in the areas of education, recreation, employment and life skills, with particular emphasis on programs aimed toward at-risk youth. Grants were awarded to the following programs and organizations:

Youth Sports Program at Case Western Reserve University
The National Youth Sports Program at CWRU addresses the health and social needs of economically disadvantaged youth through a unique five-week summer enrichment program combining sports activities, education, nutrition and health services.

Whole School Whole Child program at City Year, Inc.
City Year is a national service organization with a mission to develop young leaders through 10 months of full-time community service. Additionally, their Whole School Whole Child program allows Corps members to serve full-time as tutors and mentors and run after-school programs for students in grades 1-12.

Urban Outreach Summer at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association
The Urban Outreach Summer program provides low-income Cleveland-area children with the opportunity to attend CVNPA’s residential summer programs where they focus on hands-on encounters with theatre, culinary arts and multi-media arts free of charge.

Summer Program at The HELP Foundation
The HELP Foundation’s Summer Program services more than 300 children with special needs that cannot be met through traditional summer camp experiences due to their severe developmental disabilities and medical conditions.

Shoes and Clothes for Kids
SC4K’s Buying and Distribution program purchases and distributes shoe gift cards, new clothing and other essential items for over 25,000 children in Greater Cleveland. SC4K positively impacts the lives of area children by giving them the self-esteem and confidence that comes from having brand new shoes and clothes.

About the Cavaliers Youth Fund
Cavaliers Youth Fund (CYF), a fund of the McCormick Foundation, supports programs designed to positively impact young people in the areas of education, recreation, employment and life skills with a particular emphasis on programs aimed towards at-risk youth. Additional consideration is given to programs that deal with health-related diseases.

Since its inception in 1993, more than $20.5 million has been granted through the CYF, to local nonprofit organizations. The McCormick Foundation matches funds raised by CYF at fifty cents on the dollar, increasing the amount available to grant to worthwhile agencies.

About the McCormick Foundation
The McCormick Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening our free, democratic society by investing in children, communities and country. Through its five grant making programs, Cantigny Park and Golf, and three world-class museums, the Foundation helps build a more active and engaged citizenry. The Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The Foundation is one of the nation’s largest charities, with $1.2 billion in assets. For more information, please visit McCormickFoundation.org. 

Seven (7) Area Non-Profit Organizations Are Awarded Grant Funds by RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES® OF NORTHESTERN OHIO, INC.

 

 

Cleveland, OH, May 28, 2010 —  The Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Northeastern Ohio, Inc., (RMHC-NEO) recently awarded grants in the amount of $80,185.08 to seven (7) area non-profit organizations whose services are provided to children. 

             Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeastern Ohio, Inc., established in 1987 by local McDonald’s Owner/Operators, has awarded more than $7.2 Million to children's programs across Northeast Ohio, including ongoing financial support of the Ronald McDonald Houses in Akron and Cleveland and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® program.

·                     Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center in Cleveland, received grant funds to purchase items and equipment to support the Early Childhood & Youth Services Program.   The mission of Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center is to promote positive outcomes that improve the quality of life for youth, adults, families and seniors through comprehensive neighborhood-based services.  This grant application was endorsed by McDonald's Owner/Operator Turan Strange, owner of several McDonald’s restaurants Cleveland.

·                     DDC Clinic for Special Needs Children, located in Middlefield, was awarded grant funds to purchase items and equipment used in their Children & Youth Dental Program.  DDC Clinic for Special Needs Children is a non-profit primary care and research facility for people with special needs caused by rare genetic disorders and serves the Amish and non-Amish children and families.  This grant application was endorsed by McDonald's Owner/Operator Meloney Karos, owner of several McDonald’s restaurants in the Greater Cleveland area.

·                    Ronald McDonald House of Akron was awarded funds to support their annual golf outing. 

·                     Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland received grant funds to support their annual golf outing and to support their annual fashion show.

·                     Shoes & Clothes for Kids, Inc. located in Cleveland, was awarded grant funds to purchase shoe gift cards for disadvantaged children in Greater Cleveland.   SC4K is the only non-profit organization in Greater Cleveland providing new shoes and clothes to thousands of children in need at no charge throughout the year. Through a network of 35 distribution partners, SC4K positively impacts the lives of area children by giving them the self-esteem and confidence that comes from having brand new shoes and clothes.  This grant application was endorsed by McDonald's Owner/Operator Margo Karos, owner of several McDonald’s Restaurants in Greater Cleveland.

·                     Speech, Hearing & Rehabilitation Center located in Ashtabula, was awarded grant funds to purchase equipment and items to support their Early Education Program and Playground Improvement Project.  The Speech, Hearing and Rehabilitation Center is a private, non-profit agency that is dedicated to serving both children and adults who suffer from communication or developmental delays and disorders.
Through programs of speech therapy, audiology, occupational therapy, developmental preschool and community outreach and education, the Center assists its clients in reaching their maximum potential.  This grant application was endorsed by McDonald's Owner/Operator Allen D. Smith, owner of McDonald’s Restaurants in Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula Counties.

·                     UNCF/The College Fund was awarded funds to support their annual golf outing.

            RMHC-NEO’s mission is to support the Ronald McDonald House® programs in Akron and Cleveland and help children by awarding grants to qualified not-for-profit organizations whose programs improve the quality of life for children and their families in Northeastern Ohio.  Founded in memory of McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc, RMHC-NEO awards grants to organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax exempt status whose programs benefit children in the areas of health care, medical research, education, the arts, and civic and social service. 

            Since the chapter formed in 1987, more than $7.2 Million has been awarded to children's programs across Northeast Ohio, including ongoing financial support of the Ronald McDonald Houses in Akron and Cleveland and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®.  Grant requests are considered for tax-exempt organizations within the 20 county area represented by McDonald's Restaurant Owner/Operators in Northeast Ohio.  The Board of Directors meets three times a year to award funding.  Grant application deadlines are early April, early August and early December.  For more information, contact Ann Newman, Executive Director, at 216-986-0855, at email Director@rmhc-neo.org or visit the web site at http://rmhc-neo.org.

 

                                                                          ###

 

Shoes and Clothes for Kids Receives 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for Fourth Consecutive Year

(CLEVELAND), April 20, 2010 –

 

Shoes and Clothes for Kids is proud to announce that it has earned the coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities, for the fourth consecutive year. This honor is achieved by only 8% of the nation's charities.

Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that SC4K excels, as compared to other charities in America, in successfully managing the finances of the organization in an efficient and effective manner. According to the letter received from Ken Berger, President and CEO, Charity Navigator, “Shoes and Clothes for Kids consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Shoes and Clothes for Kids from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.”

 

In addition to receiving a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, SC4K is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity, meeting all twenty of the BBB’s standards for Charity accountability. Of every dollar donated to Shoes and Clothes for Kids, $0.92 goes directly to the programs and services that benefit the children served.

 

                                                                               

# # #

 read more ...

WHAT:              Fool’s Frolic, an evening of foolishly good fun to benefit Shoes and Clothes for Kids hosted by Moxie, the Restaurant.

 

 

WHERE:           Moxie, the Restaurant - 3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood, OH 44122

 

FEATURES:      Frolic with SC4K on Tax Day! Go directly to Moxie to take a ride on the “Fool’s Frolic” railroad. This one-of-a-kind Monopoly-themed adventure includes fine fare, libations and live entertainment with food stops along the way at Mediterranean Avenue, Pacific Avenue, Oriental Avenue, and of course a stroll on the Boardwalk. The menu features a variety of decadent food creations by Moxie that will delight your taste buds. Plus, VIPs will be treated to New York Avenue delights including caviar, oysters and lobster while sipping on martinis.  

 

                        Raffle grand prize is a trip to South Beach to experience the Red The Steakhouse restaurant. Includes round-trip airfare for two, courtesy of Continental Airlines, and a two-night stay at the luxurious, Eden Roc, a Renaissance beach resort and spa, among other fabulous prizes. Raffle tickets are $50 each or 3 for $100. Winner need not be present.

 

TICKETS:         Admission is $100 per person ($48 tax-deductible) or $150 per person for VIP ($98 tax-deductible). VIP includes exclusive pre-event food tasting, entertainment and martini bar. Event and raffle tickets can be reserved by calling Shoes and Clothes for Kids at 216.881.7463, ext. 4 by Friday, April 9^th. Space is limited. All guests will receive complimentary valet parking. Sponsorships are available, call 216.881.7463 x. 4 for more information.

 

SPONSORS:     Deal-Makers: Fairmount Minerals and Forest City Enterprises

Hoteliers: Huntington, Glenmede and Strassman Insurance

Proprietors: Melamed Communications

 

The following individuals were elected as officers for Shoes and Clothes for Kids for 2010:

• Chair – Terence J. Uhl, Executive Vice President, Landau Public Relations
• Chair Emeritus – Allan C. Krulak, Vice President and Director of Community Affairs, Forest City Enterprises
• Life Director – vic gelb, vgi inc.
• Life Director – Rockette L. Richardson, Vice President/Director of Community Investment, Charter One Bank
• Vice Chair - William R. Joseph, Partner, Weston Hurd
• Secretary – Stephanie McHenry, President-Cleveland Region, ShoreBank
• Treasurer – A. Lamont Mackley, General Manager, Another Level Resources

Shoes and Clothes for Kids elected the following individuals to serve a three year term on the Board of Directors beginning in January, 2010:

• J. Stefan Holmes – Senior Vice President and Public Funds Officer, First Merit Bank
• Darrin M. Redus, Sr. – Chief Economic Inclusion Officer/President, Jump Start Inc.
• Hallie Rich – Senior Consultant, BrownFlynn
• Karla M. Rogers – Partner, Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP
• Tracy A. Turoff – Senior Associate Attorney, Roetzel & Andress
• Eric Von Hendrix – President, MWV Pinnacle Management Company
• Michael Zitzelsberger, Jr. – District Plant Engineering Manager-Ohio District, UPS

 

 

 

 

The SC4K Heart & Sole Luncheon, presented by Time Warner Cable, includes lunch, entertainment, and a raffle, as well as a special presentation to Senator Voinovich. As volunteers play a vital role in the work of the organization, a special volunteer will be recognized at the Luncheon and presented with The Morrie Sayre Award for Outstanding Volunteerism. Individual patron tickets are $150. Individual benefactor tickets are $250, which include priority seating and program recognition.

2009 marks SC4K’s fortieth year of service to families in the Greater Cleveland community. This Heart & Sole Luncheon will commemorate this special anniversary. The organization is pleased to welcome back past Golden Shoe Honorees, including Allan C. Krulak, Irving B. Fine, Carolyn Brown, and James L. Mason, and honor the many dedicated volunteers who have worked to improve the lives of Greater Cleveland’s families and children in need.

Golden Shoe Honoree, George Voinovich, is one of Ohio’s most distinguished public servants. His career in public service began in 1963 when he was appointed Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio. He later served a state representative, Cuyahoga County Commissioner, County Auditor and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Ohio. In 1979, he was elected Mayor of Cleveland, serving as mayor for 10 years. In 1990, he was elected Governor of Ohio and served for two years. In 1998, Voinovich was elected to the United States Senate and was re-elected to a second term in 2004.

Senator Voinovich has been called “one of the most humble and hard-working members of the U.S. Senate” and he has received numerous awards for his work to strengthen the business climate in Ohio and the nation. Senator Voinovich has been a longtime supporter of SC4K’s mission and he currently serves on the organization’s Advisory Committee. Of all he has accomplished, George Voinovich counts his family – his wife Janet, his three children and his seven grandchildren – as his greatest gifts in life.

Shoes and Clothes for Kids is the only nonprofit organization in Greater Cleveland providing new shoes and clothes at no charge throughout the year to thousands of children in need. Through a network of 35 distribution partners, SC4K positively impacts the lives of area children by giving them the self-esteem and confidence that comes from having brand new shoes and clothes. In 2009, SC4K will distribute new clothing and Payless shoe gift cards with a retail value of more than $1.8 million, in large part due to the proceeds from the Heart & Sole Luncheon. For more information, visit www.sc4k.org or contact Carolyn Sekerak, Director of Communications at 216.881.SHOE (7463), ext. 1.

 

(CLEVELAND), September 9, 2009 – Today, Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K), a local non-profit organization that provides new shoes and clothes to thousands of children in need free of charge, is the beneficiary of two exciting initiatives that have engaged Greater Clevelanders, Fill the House at Progressive Field and Stuff the Bus at nearby Gateway Plaza.

SC4K is proud to be one of 13 charities selected to take part in the Cleveland Indians’ Fill the House for Charity Competition. SC4K supporters are filling Progressive Field today as the Indians take on the Texas Rangers at 12:05 p.m. Through the generosity of the Cleveland Indians, SC4K will receive $5.00 for every game ticket purchased through this program and an additional $1.00 for every ticket sold to today’s game.

Discounted Upper Box Seat tickets to the game were sold at the Indians’ Fill the House web site at http://www.indians.com/fillthehouse and the event was heavily promoted on the site as well.

A generous sponsorship from Fifth Third Bank allowed SC4K to purchase 750 tickets which for high-achieving school children from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to experience the game.

According to Executive Director, Valerie McCormack “SC4K is honored to be selected as a Fill the House Charity. The funds raised through this exciting program will help thousands of children gain the self-esteem and confidence that comes from having something new to wear.”

Today, SC4K will have a definite presence at the ball park beyond the 700 Cleveland youths attending the game. Select members of the Cleveland School’s All City Choir performed the national anthem, Steve Sossbee, an SC4K supporter will threw out the Ceremonial First Pitch, and the scoreboard featured a short video about SC4K, and during the bottom of the 7^th inning SC4K participated in an on-field check presentation with the Indians.

Meanwhile, outside the ball park on Wednesday community members helped SC4K Stuff the Bus with new school supplies, clothing, shoes, and monetary donations to help Greater Cleveland’s children in need prepare for the school year. The 4^rd Annual Stuff the Bus for Cleveland’s Kids donation drive, was generously sponsored by Dominion with support from Downtown Cleveland Alliance and BOMA Greater Cleveland.

A full-size school bus from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities was parked on Gateway Plaza between Progressive Field and Quicken Loans Arena and accepted donations from 8:00 a.m. through 5:30 p.m.

Donated items included polo shirts, pants, jeans, socks, shoes, belts, underwear, backpacks, and school supply items (paper, notebooks, pens/pencils, rulers, binders, glue, calculators, crayons/markers, hand sanitizer and tissues). Monetary donations to SC4K were also accepted. In the past month, a dozen area companies have been hosting collection drives in their offices and came to the bus to donate items. These include Key Bank, Fifth Third Bank, Dominion and Melamed Riley Advertising, among others.

According to SC4K executive director, Valerie McCormack, the organization “requests donations of new items only, which is a critical part of Shoes and Clothes for Kids’ mission to positively impact the lives of area children by giving them the self-esteem and confidence that comes from having brand new shoes, clothing, back packs and other essential school supplies.”

Items collected during the Stuff the Bus campaign will be distributed to children in need through the SC4K distribution network of 35 partner agencies to ensure that every child returns to school with what they need to succeed. Monetary donations will be used to purchase shoes, clothing, and school supplies, at pennies on the dollar, to enhance our back-to school efforts.

Individuals interested in supporting the Stuff the Bus or Fill the House events are encouraged to visit www.sc4k.org or call 216.881.7463 for more information.

 

 

Once again, The Cleveland Browns have partnered with SC4K to sponsor the 2009 Back to School Campaign. A generous donation of $15,000 from the Cleveland Browns Foundation will help SC4K distribute double the amount of gift cards during the August distribution. These cards will help children in need purchase new athletic shoes as they go back to school. To kick off the campaign, 75 children who receive services from SC4K will attend Cleveland Browns Training Camp later this month and each will receive a backpack full of school supplies and a shoe gift card and the opportunity to meet Browns players!