The Community Currency Exchange Association of Illinois (CCEA) in partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago will distribute 8,400 “Kits for Kidz” on August 18, 2010 as part of the Back 2 School program that provides school supplies to needy children. The event will take place from 11AM to 6PM at the South Side YMCA at 6330 South Stoney Island.
Now in it’s 6th year, the Back 2 School program raised more than $100,000 in 2010 from corporate sponsors and online donations from the public. 100% of the money donated from the public goes toward buying calculators, pens, backpacks, paper, notebooks and other tools these kids will need to succeed in the classroom.
The Back 2 School program began in 2004 and has since provided hundreds of thousands of school supplies to needy children in the Chicagoland area. Funding this year’s program is especially important amidst a challenging economy and Illinois school budget cuts.
“Illinois families need our help more than ever to ensure their children have the tools necessary for a successful school year,” said John Iberl, president of the Community Currency Exchange Association.
“In these economic times, it’s very hard to acquire all the needs for a family as it relates to education,” said Katherine Anderson, a single mother of four children. “The ‘Kits for Kidz’ help my children to have a productive start to the school year and to be prepared and ready to work with a sense of pride.”
“Education is critical to our future. By providing whatever it takes to help kids succeed, whether it’s school supplies or after-school tutoring, the YMCA is always there for kids. With the CCEA and other partners, we’re making a difference in a very tangible way,” said Richard H. Malone, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
Community Currency Exchange Association of Illinois
The Community Currency Exchange Association of Illinois (CCEA) was formed in 1937. The Association oversees the marketing and community outreach programs for the state’s more than 400 Currency Exchanges. Through the years, the Association has worked to provide a variety of business, government and financial services to the citizens of Illinois. To learn more about the CCEA, visit www.mycurrencyexchange.com.
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
Through its 65 locations and more than 100 extension sites, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago helps children learn and grow, teaches young people to lead, brings families closer, and encourages individual health and well-being. As one of the largest non-profits in Chicago and one of the largest human services organizations in the nation, YMCA programs impact hundreds of thousands of lives annually, helping to strengthen neighborhoods and respond to community needs across Chicagoland. To learn more, visit www.ymcachgo.org.
