United Way and BI-LO Charities Partner to Provide School Supplies and Book Bags to 5,000 Local Children

Giving kids the tools they need to succeed in school – and in life. That’s the ultimate goal of “United Way School Tools.” In partnership with Project Sponsor BI-LO Charities, Inc., the program is designed to provide students of families who are most in need with the school supplies required to start school ready to learn. With all results tallied, 5,000 children will receive help through the project. This represents the largest school supply drive United Way has had in the nine-year history of the project.

For the past two months, United Way has been working with 100 local companies, whose employees participated in the project this year. Employees at the participating companies selected names of children who have qualified for School Tools — students in Greenville County Schools who might not have the opportunity to get the supplies they need to begin the school year otherwise. Employees then filled grocery bags with supplies which were collected at the end of July. Supplies are currently being sorted with the assistance of volunteers from Hands On Greenville and given to United Way partner agencies so that they can be distributed to children in time to begin the new school year.

BI-LO Charities, Inc. is playing a critical leadership role in the project, providing a free book bag to 5,000 kids to go along with the school supplies being provided by the employees of the 100 participating companies. “We are thrilled to partner with the United Way School Tools Program,” said Carol Browning, Director of BI-LO Charities. “Making sure all children have the tools they need to enhance their learning experience is a great investment in the future of Greenville County.”

Margaret Clark, United Way Board member and Chairman of United Way’s Community Impact Cabinet, praised the commitment of BI-LO Charities and the 100 companies involved in this year’s project. “Our community owes great thanks to the employees of the companies who participated in ‘School Tools’ this year. The project’s success is a direct result of their commitment to caring and dedication to making a difference.”

These statistics show why “School Tools” is so important:

In 2006, 55,104 individuals in Greenville County live below the poverty level. In 2005, the poverty level was defined as $20,000 annual income for a family of four. (ACS, 2006)
In Greenville County, 19.7% of all children live in poverty. This translates to 19,676 children. (ACS, 2006)
In Greenville County, 4,036 single-parent, female-headed households with children live below the poverty level. (US Census Bureau)

How did families qualify to receive school supplies?
Students receiving supplies applied through a qualification process in partnership with Greenville County Schools. Special emphasis was placed on identified Title I Schools.

How can you get involved in “School Tools” next year?
“United Way School Tools” kicks off in mid-June of each year so that supplies can be collected and distributed to students prior to the first day of school. If you or your company is interested in participating in School Tools next year, please contact Katie Epps at United Way (864.467.3583 or kepps@unitedwaygc.org).

School Tools 2008 Participating Companies

3M COMPANY
AGILYSYS
AHOLD INFORMATION SERVICES
ARCADIS U.S., INC.
B2B MEDIA, INC.
BANK OF TRAVELERS REST
BANKGREENVILLE
BAUSCH & LOMB
BE&K BUILDING GROUP
BI-LO, LLC
BLOOD CONNECTION, INC.
BMW MANUFACTURING CO, LLC
BON SECOURS ST. FRANCIS HEALTH SYSTEM
BRADSHAW, GORDON & CLINKSCALES
CALDER BROTHERS CORPORATION
CAPSTONE INSURANCE SERVICES LLC
CAROLINA FIRST BANK
CASS INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC., TELECOM SERVICES D
CATERPILLAR, INC.
CLIFFS COMMUNITIES
COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY CONSOLIDATED
COGNIS CORPORATION
COLLIERS KEENAN
COVINGTON/TUTMAN PROPERTIES, LLC
CRYOVAC DIVISION, SEALED AIR CORPORATION
DESIGNSTRATEGIES, LLC
DIXON HUGHES PLLC
ELLIOTT DAVIS, LLC
ENWRIGHT ASSOCIATES INC.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
FIND GREAT PEOPLE INTERNATIONAL
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF THE SOUTH
FREEMAN & MAJOR ARCHITECTS
FURMAN UNIVERSITY
GALLIVAN, WHITE & BOYD, P.A.
GENERAL ELECTRIC GAS TURBINE (GREENVILLE), L.L.C.
GENERAL WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS
GODSHALL STAFFING SERVICES
GREATER GREENVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GREENVILLE COUNTRY CLUB
GREENVILLE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
GREENVILLE DRIVE
GREENVILLE HOSPITAL SYSTEM
GREENVILLE NEWS
GREER STATE BANK
INTEGRATED POWER SERVICES, LLC
IRIX MANUFACTURING, INC.
JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC.
JCPENNEY COMPANY, INC. #695
KEMET ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
KM FABRICS, INC.
KPMG LLP
LEVEL ONE
MARSH USA / MERCER H&B
MERRILL LYNCH
METLIFE
NEAL-PRINCE & PARTNERS ARCHITECTS, INC.
NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH LLP
NUTRA MANUFACTURING, INC.
O'NEAL INC.
PEACE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
PERRIGO COMPANY OF SC, INC.
PIEDMONT TRAVEL INC.
PRUDENTIAL C. DAN JOYNER COMPANY REALTORS - GARLINGTON
PRUDENTIAL C. DAN JOYNER COMPANY REALTORS - SIMPSONVILLE
RBC INSURANCE
RMT, INC.
ROSENFELD EINSTEIN & ASSOCIATES INSURANCE AGENCY,
SARA LEE FOODSERVICE
SCANSOURCE, INC.
SMITH BARNEY, A DIVISION OF CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKE
SMITH MOORE LEATHERWOOD LLP
SPA AT WEST END
SPAN-AMERICA MEDICAL SYSTEMS
STEVE WHITE MOTORS OF SC, INC.
SYNTERRA
TALBOTS - AUGUSTA STREET
TALBOTS - SHOPS AT GREENRIDGE
TARGET #1870 - SIMPSONVILLE
TARGET #1937 - GREER
THE TIMKEN CORPORATION
THORNBLADE CLUB
U. S. FOODSERVICE
UNITED HEALTH GROUP
VERIZON WIRELESS
WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.
WACHOVIA INSURANCE
WHNS-FOX CAROLINA
WILLIS OF SOUTH CAROLINA
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE
WOODWARD