AmyBSells Giving Back

2010 Campaign: St. Cecilia School Supply Drive - Oakley

Supplying 200 Student With Supplies

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AmyBSells Giving Back
2890 Ziegle Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45208

Check Memo: St. Cecilia School Supply Drive

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Charity provides relief for jobless parents

Contributed By: Brianna Bodine | PR Consultant

Cincinnati, Ohio, June 09, 2010 - St. Cecilia's Elementary School in Oakley recorded a 13 percent increase in poverty rates among student families, up from 56 percent in previous years, according to School Principal Lori Heffner.

Though the recession has arguably started to turn around, job creation is still lagging behind economic recovery. Low-income families are among those hit hardest by skyrocketing unemployment, which is still on the rise in many states, including Cincinnati with an estimated 10.5 percent unemployment rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Families in our district have historically struggled to provide their children with a quality education, and many of them have lost their jobs or had their hours reduced at work," Heffner said. "Parents can sometimes barely afford food, let alone a calculator, which leaves the students at a real disadvantage. More than ever, our students have a dire need for basic school supplies and living necessities."

Since 2008, Cincinnati Realtor Amy Broghamer has orchestrated an annual school supply fundraising drive through her charity AmyBSells Giving Back, which meets the needs of the approximately 200 students who attend St. Cecilia's School.

"I wanted to foster growth and prosperity in my community by giving back some of the blessings I enjoy as a business owner here in Hyde Park," Broghamer said. "I searched close to home and discovered the dire need for assistance at St. Cecilia's. I never looked back."

Despite being a private school, St. Cecilia's hardly has it easy. Three years ago, St. Cecilia was forced to institute a breakfast program after it was discovered that many students were arriving to class without having eaten anything beforehand. Students often arrived on the first day of school without the necessary supplies to learn - pens and pencils, rulers and notebooks - leaving teachers to supplement the shortage with money out of their own pocket.

For the last two years, AmyBSells Giving Back has raised enough money to cover supplies for every student at the school, and Broghamer is determined to have another successful year with a fundraising goal of $6,000. "Even more than past years, low-income families are desperate for basic necessities that many of us take for granted," she said. "I know I can count on my neighbors and my colleagues to give these kids the resources to help them get the most out of their education. Now is not the time to stop giving."

In the future, Broghamer plans to continue the relationship her charity started with St. Cecilia, with additional projects evolving as fundraising continues throughout the year. Last year, the charity also donated an entire care load of extra supplies to the 2009 Summer in the City event, hosted by St. John's Social Services center in Over the Rhine, which gave more than 400 children school supplies.

AmyBSells Giving Back community outreach extends from the local food banks, to humane societies and to cancer research programs. Anyone interested in donating to AmyBSells Giving Back can contact Amy Broghamer directly at (513)377-3637 or amy@amybsells.com. Donations will be accepted year-round for the 2010 St. Cecilia Supply Drive. Visit http://www.amybsells.com/GivingBack for more information.