Schools Count Corp Cares!

By the very nature of our company's name, Schools Count, its pretty obvious that our organization; its donors, volunteers, affiliated non-profits, and recipients care deeply about young people. Going a step further, we seek to enable students to have the resources available, on a daily basis, so that they can enjoy success in the classroom while having a pleasant overall experience in the process.

That is exactly why we provide not only supplies for use in day-to-day classroom work but we also provide gear for athletics, games for rainy days, resources for recess, and instruments for music programs. Our aim is to provide for a students total educational experience.

There are far too many public schools in this country, whether because of disasters or tough economic times, that aren't able - through no fault of their own - to fully meet the needs of their students.

And that's where Schools Count Corp comes in. Public schools have always been fundamental to the success of individuals, the communities in which they reside, and the larger American society. A decent public education must be afforded every child in the United States. Schools Count Corp. will do its part to help realize this right and, in turn, and the dreams of each person.

Many thanks for your continued support!!!


Dick Flesher
President

HC Boys Soccer Readies for KIKK

What team will be crowned the 2009 KIKK (Kick It In For Katrina Kids) Champion in Hinsdale Central's annual soccer-tennis fundraiser? We'll soon know as the players take to the court next Sunday, September 20th at the Hinsdale Central H. S. tennis courts. The competion begins at 2:00 pm and the champion will be crowned by 5:00 pm.

This unique game sees teams of 2-3 players playing in a group format, like the World Cup, with each team guaranted to play in three matches. After this early phase of soccer-tennis, heading or kicking the soccer ball over the net, the competition moves in single elimination phase.

Players pay a minimal registration fee to play in the event with all the proceeds going to Schools Count Corp. The funds are used to purchase supplies for Illinois and Chicagoland schools, as well as those in New Orleans, in need of various resources.

Kudos to Hinsdale Bank and Trust in Hinsdale for providing the funds to purchase t-shirts. Every participant in the KIKK competition receives a free t-shirt. Thanks Kramer's!! Your support is appreciated.

Come on out and enjoy the day and root for your favorite player. Let the fun begin!!

Dick Flesher

HC Volleyball Hits It Big!!

Yesterday, the Hinsdale Central Girls Volleyball Team made as big of an impression off the court as they have on the court so far this campaign. In case you don't know it, the Red Devils are off to a 2-0 start to their season. Coming off their latest victory over Fenwick on Friday, Aug. 28th, the Red Devils took to the senior park lot the very next day to sponsor a carwash which benefits Schools Count Corp.

And what a carwash it was!!!! In just four hours the girls took in an astonishing $1010.00!! That's right, $1010.00! The morning started off a little slow but by 10:00 am there were anywhere from four to six cars waiting to be washed. Mind you, this wasn't just an ordinary car wash. The girls climbed step ladders to wash the roofs of SUV's, washed cars thoroughly (sometimes that doesn't happen!), hand dried them and washed windows if the donors so requested.

This is our first fundraiser heading into 2010 and I couldn't be more pleased with the effort the girls put forth. Besides that, it looked as though the girls enjoyed themselves! If this is any indicator of the success that Schools Count Corp will have in raising funds, and the fortunes of the girls on the court in the '09 volleyball season, then we'll both surely reap some huge rewards.

Thanks girls!!!

Mission Accomplished!

On Friday, August 7th, nearly 30 volunteers arrived at our Mokena home to load trucks bound for Katrina ravaged schools in New Orleans. Beginning at 7:30AM they helped palletize, wrap and load 70 pallets worth of used and new school supplies and equipment for 23 New Orleans public schools. We filled two 53’ semi’s, a 26’ and 22’ rental trucks. By 4PM when we finished, everything was sorted by school and loaded. We want to thank the generous donors including the local schools for their assistance in collecting used items and keeping them out of landfills.

A big thank you goes out to Berkot’s for their assistance and to the following who assisted on the 7th: Sarah Steinke, Peggy Lutter, Hanna McClard, Eileen O’Donoghue, Zack and Denise McClard, Jake and Zack Davy, John Hill, Kyle and Rodger Rottmann, Chris Wilbur, Laura Milas, Liz and Lexi Oreluk, Linda Hurt, Dylan Canavan, Justin and Kelly Cronin, Timur Akman-Duffy, Steve Eich, Bill Zoetveldt, Carol and Kurt Smith, Ed Lynch, Nancy Schussler, Marcus Lindsey, and Ethan, Jaelynn and Valerie Ruth.

The commitment and support we have received allowed us, L. Serwat (Hinsdale), B. Feldman (Lemont), K. Parks (Cedar Lake, IN), A. & S. Hardenbol (Houston, TX), and several volunteers from the New Orleans area, to deliver these supplies to help over 10,000 children start the school year off with basic supplies. Not only were we able to deliver pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, folders, etc. but generous donations of textbooks, music instruments, and school uniforms also made their way into the hands of the students.

Following our return, additional supplies were donated to Kellar School in Robbins, IL. Again, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of those around us as we continue to aid those less fortunate. Thank you, Schools Count Corp., Dick Flesher

See you on Friday!

Thanks to all the volunteers who responded, we are looking forward to seeing you on Friday to help sort, palletize and load. As we speak we are still out picking up supplies your generous donations have made possible for purchase. We couldn't do this without you!

Our deliveries to New Orleans schools will be next week and we will be delivering to over 20 schools. We have been contacted by an RSD curriculum coordinator who we have worked with before, she is looking for textbooks for Algebra, Biology and Environmental Science. So we have been searching the area and were able to "rescue" some textbooks from SCARCE in Glen Ellyn. So in addition to school supplies we are delivering 2 pallets of textbooks as well as band instruments and weight lifting equipment! Additionally, we purchased over 100 games which were requested by schools for students on days when they cannot go outside for recess.

Thank you all for all your help and hard work. This week we have purchased and boxed over 200 school uniforms, made delivery schedules, contacted schools, contacted volunteers, made signs for pallets, picked up games and boxed and labeled those, prepared receipts for the schools. So much going on!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We have wrapped up the hours of sorting, labeling and organizing and are now in need of volunteers. We invite you to help us supply 22 New Orleans Area Schools this August. We are desperately in need of labor! On Friday, August 7th we will be organizing, palletizing and loading supplies onto 3 - 22' Rental trucks and a semi. We need help this day to get everything on the trucks. It is fun, we provide lunch and you will be helping thousands of NOLA students.

Additionally due to additional donations (YEAH) we are still in need of a volunteer to assist in driving one of the 22' trucks down to NOLA on Sunday August 9th. You could help us deliver to schools on the 10th and 11th and then we return home on the 11th or 12th.

If you are interested in going to NOLA, hotel accommodations and travel costs are covered. It is a great opportunity to help so many who desperately need it and who count on us.

We can't continue to do this without your help. Please contact Dick Flesher at rich219@comcast.net if you are interested in assisting in either way.

Thank you!

Sorting Supplies Bound for NOLA 09

The past couple of months have been spent diligently organizing, arranging, picking up, sorting, counting, and packaging used school supplies. The efforts have been continuous. Several days involved renting a 16' truck, driving to multiple schools, loading boxes, coming home, unloading, returning truck and then spending the night sorting and organizing. Try spending hours digging through crayons, pencils, pens, and glue!

As well as ripping out used pages in notebooks and boxing and counting them. Cleaning out folders, organizing teacher supplies, sorting books, etc. The efforts have been enormous and well worth it. To date we have collected the following gently used supplies that would have otherwise ended up in landfills! Please take a moment to recognize the schools listed for their efforts in organizing and collecting these items!

To Date these schools have provided:

over 8,000 folders

4,000 spirals

20 boxes of glue

over 100,000 sheets of loose leaf paper

2,600 binders

14 large boxes of crayons

16 large boxes of colored markers

over 10,000 pens and pencils

numerous art supplies

backpacks

music instruments, and more.