The Caring Tree Provides Over 6,000 Minnesota Students
With New School Supplies in 2000

Bloomington, MN— December 18, 2009- Thanks to The Caring Tree, over 6,000 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 17th Annual Caring Tree Campaign took place July 27 - August 10. More than 30 social service agencies partnered with The Caring Tree to distribute the supplies to low-income children statewide. Many companies and organizations also coordinated internal school supply donation drives that raised substantial supplies and financial contributions to assist hundreds of children. Significant donations were collected from: ACS, Allied Blacktop Co., Amierprise Financial Employee Program, Aurora Investments, LLC, Best Buy MOA Viewpoint Committee, Best Buy - Store 1000, Carter, Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet, Epicor, G&H Rauenhorst Foundation, Highlight Printing, Jostens, Klodt Incorporated, Marquette Real Estate Group, Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, MinuteClinic, MLT Vacations, MN Wild, MNCREW, NorthMarq, The Oaks on Pleasant, Opus Foundation, Paster Enterprises, The Provisions Book - Eden Prairie, The Provisions Book - Minnetonka, Regency Hospital, RJM Construction, Reliance Development Company, Robert Muir Company, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., Shock Doctor, Inc., Solomon Real Estate Group, Spalon Montage, StudioFit Fusion, United Properties, United Way, University of MN Libraries, Wells Fargo Insurance Services, Wells Fargo Trust Operations, and Zeiszler Chiropractic Clinic.

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. In partnership with a school supply company that works with nonprofits like The Caring Tree, we have been able to leverage and maximize all financial contributions. The Caring Tree is able to send a child back to school fully equipped with all the necessary school supplies for $20 per child. With this being said, The Caring Tree can maximize contribution dollars and nearly triple the amount of children served by organizations that buy their supplies at cost or full retail. The Caring Tree program believes in assisting as many low-income children as possible by maximizing our donor financial contributions, which then allow us to leverage the number of children we can serve.  Financial contributions can be sent to The Caring Tree, 8120 Penn Avenue South, Suite 464, Bloomington, MN 55431 or visit www.caringtree.org to donate online or call The Caring Tree Hotline at (952) 881-3055.

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’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.