As a real estate agent and a resident in your community, I am always looking for ways to improve the quality of life in our neighborhood. Recently, the dire need of a local school came to my attention, and I have directed my efforts to raise funds to buy school supplies for students at St. Cecilia School in Oakley. By creating AmyBSells Giving Back charity fund, my goal is to raise $10,000 to outfit approximately 200 students with pencils, pens, folders, notebooks and other supplies on the first day of the 2008-2009 school year.

Surprisingly, not all private schools have it easy. St. Cecilia has survived the wave of Catholic school closings that have plagued the East Coast and Midwest, despite funding shortages and overtaxed families, but our community can do more to keep this valuable community resource alive.

At St. Cecilia, more than 56 percent of the students’ families are classified as low income, a phenomenon that has resulted from the mass exodus of families out of the inner-city. Many students are unable to come to school with the proper supplies – notebooks, folders, and even pens and pencils. Recently, St. Cecilia instituted a breakfast program, after it was discovered that many students were arriving to class without having eaten anything beforehand.

It’s hard to learn when you are ill-prepared and hungry.

Often, teachers shoulder the burden by paying for school supplies out of their own pocket. With the assistance from AmyBSells Giving Back, St. Cecilia teachers will be able to use their personal funds for extracurricular materials such as art materials or games. The financial boost will also free up funds in the school budget to provide other supplies such as sports equipment.

As a community member, a neighbor and a citizen, I hope that you can find it within your heart and resources to donate to AmyBSells Giving Back School Supply Drive. You can support a single student for $35 or a classroom for $100, or commit to paying for all of the pencils or notebooks they need, but any amount is appreciated and will be put directly into purchasing school supplies for students. It’s as good as handing the money over personally, and 100 percent of the funds are spent directly on the kids.

This is your home. This is your future. Please, give back.

See our attached FAQ for more information about the charity, the school and making donations. Thank you for your generosity and spirit.

Press Release

Sincerely,

Amy Broghamer, Founder
AmyBSells Giving Back
2008 St. Cecilia School Supply Drive

Related...

• May 29, 2008 -- 2008 Oakley St. Cecilia School Giving Back FAQ
• May 28, 2008 -- Press Release
• October 28, 2009 -- Small Homes: Economical and Eco-Friendly!
• October 27, 2009 -- Cincinnati Market Overview – Oakley – 10/27/2009