2007 Caring Tree Results!

The Caring Tree Provides Over 10,000 Minnesota Students
With New School Supplies in 2007

Bloomington, MN— Thanks to The Caring Tree, over 10,000 low-income students returned to school this year with new school supplies they would not have had otherwise. This program significantly impacts each participating student, giving them a better chance to successfully complete their education. Hundreds of individuals and companies donated school supplies and financial contributions to help children in their local communities.

The 15th Annual Caring Tree Campaign took place at 23 shopping centers and 6 TopLine Federal Credit Union branches throughout the state of Minnesota from August 3 - 20. More than 24 social service agencies partnered with The Caring Tree to distribute the supplies to low-income children statewide.

Many companies and churches also organized internal school supply donation drives and raised enough supplies and financial contributions. Significant donations were collected from: Class Act Stationery & Accessories, Inc, Highlight Printing, CB Richard Ellis (5th Street Towers), MNCREW, Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), Christopher & Banks, Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, Inc, Savvis, FAMG and Retail Collections at U.S. Bank, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Swarm, Custody Services Department at Wells Fargo Trust Operations, Best Buy, Skyline Chiropractic, MLT Vacations Inc., Chicago Title Insurance Company and RBC Dain Rauscher.

The Caring Tree estimates that 2,500 volunteer hours went into the coordination of the project. Although The Caring Tree has assisted many students with back-to-school supplies, there are still thousands more in-need.  According to the US Census Bureau, 2000 Census, there are over 121,000 children in the state of Minnesota that live at or below the poverty level.  Individuals and corporations can make a cash donation that will be leveraged to purchase prepackaged or bulk school supplies that include a backpack, calculator, dictionary and all the basic school supplies for each child.  These supplies will then be distributed to low-income students throughout the state of Minnesota, based upon greatest need.  Financial contributions can be sent to The Caring Tree, 8120 Penn Avenue South, Suite 114, Bloomington, MN 55431 or visit www.caringtree.org to donate online.

For additional details on how to participate, visit our website at www.caringtree.org or call The Caring Tree Hotline at (952) 881-3055.

The Caring Tree has begun organizing the 2008 campaign. If you are interested in participating by hosting a Caring Tree site, volunteering at a site or holding a school supply drive, please contact Karla Keller Torp, Executive Director at (952) 888-3490.

The Caring Tree’s mission is to promote educational success for Minnesota’s K-12 students in-need by ensuring that they have the appropriate school supplies. The Caring Tree offers a system for identifying students in-need and communicating their need to the community. Individuals have the opportunity to "adopt" a particular student and purchase their requested items, or to make financial contributions at participating retailers.  The Caring Tree and social service agencies coordinate the supply distribution to low-income children. The Caring Tree is a tax-exempt organization as described in Sections 501(c)3 and 509(a)1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

The Caring Tree's mission is to promote educational success for Minnesota's K-12 students in-need by ensuring that they have the appropriate school supplies.

The Caring Tree program is administered by The Caring Tree, a tax exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3)  and 509(a)(I) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.  Donors my deduct contributions to The Caring Tree as provided in Section 170 of the code.