A LexLinc Initiative

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2008
A LexLinc Initiative
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A Collaborative Effort
Coordinated by LexLinc
Host Sites 16 Neighborhoods
Serving 8,000 Children, their families schools
Supported by
Over 200 Sponsors
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Sponsorship

• The 6,000 backpacks were purchased by Kentucky
  Utilities Company and the 6,000 supply kits were
  purchased thanks to the generous sponsorship of
  over 100 organizations and individuals totaling
  72,563

Serving 1,000 2,000 Children

• Serving 500 999 Children
• Anthany Eunice Beatty Family Foundation at
  Blue Grass Community Foundation
• Jackson Curlin for Kids Fund at Blue Grass
  Community Foundation
• Knight Foundation

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Sponsorship
Serving 100 499 Children Blue Grass Kiwanis
Club Central Bank CMW, Inc. Insight
Communications Keeneland Association Lexington
Fayette Urban County Council Nurses Registry
Home Health Corporation Sherman Carter
Barnhart Stu Kathy Silberman John T. Taylor,
President/CEO American Founders
Bank University of Kentucky The Webb Family
Foundation Toyota Tsusho America
Serving 50 99 Children Dennis Anderson Wanda
Bertram Columbia Gas Community Action
Council Community Trust Bank Employment
Solutions Fifth Third Bank Kentucky American
Water National City Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Kentucky Urban League of Lexington Jewel
Vanderhoef
In-Kind Partners Enterprise rent-a-car LFUCG
Parks Recreation LFUCG Police
Department Portman Equipment Company Transylvania
W.T. Young Center
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School supply kits were brought to the William T.
Young Center at Transylvania University
which served as the operations center for the
organization of the back-to-school rallies. Over
200 community volunteers came to help us unload
and assembly the school supplies.
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Kentucky Utilities Company purchased the 6,000
elementary school backpacks, which were also
delivered to the W. T. Young Center at
Transylvania University. Community volunteers
helped unload the backpacks as well.
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The Dunbar High School football team helped
organize the backpacks and supply kits for each
of the 16 different neighborhood rallies. After
that, each rally coordinator had to come and pick
up their supplies and backpacks.
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Community volunteers placed information from the
Department of Environmental Quality in the
backpacks. The Department of Environmental
Quality with Lexington Fayette Urban County
Government partnered with to educate children and
their families on ways they can
protect the environment.
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Mayor Jim Newberry talked about the importance of
Lexingtons children being adequately prepared
for school and he thanked the community for
supporting this event.
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Barry Brauch, Executive V.P./CFO of American
Founders Bank presented a 10,000 check towards
the purchase of school supply kits.
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Cliff Feltham, Statewide Media Relations Manager
with Kentucky Utilities Company showed off one of
the backpacks that they purchased for the
back-to-school rallies. K.U. purchased all 6,000
elementary school backpacks used at this years
rallies.
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Superintendent Stu Silberman thanked the
sponsors, volunteers, neighborhoods and
community partners that made the 2008 Ready,
Set, Go! Neighborhood Back-to-School Rallies a
reality.
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Once the backpacks and supply kits had been
assembled and organized, they were ready to be
distributed to the 16 different rally sites.
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Enterprise rent-a-car provided the back-to-school
rallies with three vans to help transport the
backpacks and supplies to the different rally
locations.
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Back-to-School Rally Sites
Arlington Bracktown Cardinal Valley Castlewood Coo
livan East End Eastland Gainesway Georgetown Green
Acres Marlboro/Radcliffe Pralltown South
End Speigel Heights Winburn Woodhill
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Families registered for school supplies at the
Radcliffe/Marlboro neighborhood back-to-school
rally. Parents had to bring their children to
register in order to be eligible for the backpack
and school supply kits. Registration took place
at the same time at all of the rallies. Resources
were given out on a first come-first serve basis.
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At most of the rallies, community partners were
present to provided additional resources to the
families. For example, at Green Acres
neighborhood rally, the North Side Library gave
out books and shared information about their
programs and services at their new facility.
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Each of the rallies had activities for the
families throughout the day to give them
something to do while waiting for the
distribution of the backpacks and school supply
kits. Activities at the Eastland neighborhood
rally included hula-hoop contests and an
inflatable slide.
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A father with three children received elementary
school backpacks and supply kits at the Woodhill
neighborhood rally. Distribution and backpacks
took place at all of the 16 rallies at the same
time.
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After receiving their backpacks and school supply
kits, children were curious about their new
supplies at the Gainesway neighborhood
rally. This was a common scene at all of the
rallies.
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In addition to the 6,000 elementary school
children served through LexLinc sponsors and
partners, the neighborhoods came up with
resources to serve 2,000 middle and high school
students.
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The citys division of waste management was on
hand at several of the rallies to make sure that
the supply kits were recycled. The kids thought
it was great fun to throw the cardboard boxes
into the trucks.
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• I would like to take this opportunity to let
  you and all your associates know that I am very
  indebted to your organization in providing school
  supplies to my grandchildren and I know I speak
  for all other grandparents as well as parents. 
  This enlightens and relieves the financial stress
  where clothing and other materials are required
  by the students.  Again from a grandmother who is
  very thankful.

Gloria Swope Dawson, Grandmother
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• The looks on the childrens faces as they
  opened their school kits told the whole story. 
  Their faces lit up with excitement, as did their
  parents, when they saw all the brand new items
  they would have to start the school year.   The
  turnout in Pralltown for the neighborhoods first
  back to school rally was outstanding and there
  was a real sense of excitement in the air about
  learning.   We were a surprised and very
  heartened by the number of middle and high school
  kids who came and participated too.  As a
  coordinator, I felt blessed to be a part of
  such a joyous event!
• -Gail Kennedy,
• Pralltown Back-to-School
  Rally Coordinator Director of
  Lucille Little Fine Arts Library, U.K.

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The neighborhood Back to School Rallies offer
the opportunity for businesses, organizations,
parents, and the community to come together in
support of our children.  It lightens the burden
for families by cutting the cost of school
supplies while creating camaraderie among all
stakeholders.  It is an example of the powerful
partnership we can, and should, provide to the
school system and the educational success of all
children.  I am proud to play such a small part
in anything that benefits our families, our
community, and especially, our children. -Jess
ica Berry, Georgetown back-to- school rally
Coordinator
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As my first time as coordinator I saw the great
need for supporting the community and the school
system.  It is very important that the faith
community be involved with community events and
especially those that involve family.  The Back
to School Rally is a great event that brings
community together for a great common cause and
need.  I observed first hand the appreciation of
the families as well as the fulfillment in the
organizations that cooperated in making the event
a success.  This event was a great task organized
by loving and concerned leaders and executed by
concerned and loving organizations.  I look
forward to the next rally. -Pastor
Leatherwood, Coolivan back-to- school rally
Coordinator
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• The rallies are not just about an even level of
  preparedness for all children. Its also about
  building sustained relationships and bridges in
  our neighborhoods focused on their education and
  well-being. This initiative is having an amazing
  impact on re-connecting our community.

-Wanda Bertram, Executive Director LexLinc
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What it Took

• 16 Neighborhoods
• 200 Sponsors
• 100s of Volunteers
• 2,000 Middle High School Backpacks
• 6,000 Elementary School Backpacks
• 72,000 in School Supplies
• One Great Event!

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We could not have done this without you!