Do Something 101: Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove Teens Collect Staples School Supplies for Laura's House
 

Garden Grove, CA  - DoSomething.org and Staples are teaming up for the 2nd annual national Do Something 101 Supply Drive. Joining them to support the cause and collect school supplies is Grammy Winning singer-songwriter, Ciara.

As part of Do Something 101, Ciara is encouraging teens to make a difference this summer by collecting school supplies and dropping them off at their nearest Staples store, from July 5 through September 19. In addition, Staples customers can get involved by donating $1 at any Staples store with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting an educational and not-for-profit organization that serves disadvantaged youth.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove (BGCGG) teens have decided to give the school supplies collected from the drive to Laura's House, a non-profit organization in Orange County whose mission is to change the social beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence, while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

"We are excited to have this opportunity for our teens to partner with Staples and Laura's House to provide school supplies for children in our community who need this type of support most. Our teens are determined to do whatever they can to make this project a success," said Pat Halberstadt, Chief Professional Officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove.

Families and children who suffer from domestic violence are waiting for the right moment to escape their homes with only enough time to bring in their most important paperwork. Usually, they do not have the chance to bring their necessities such as clothing, backpacks, school supplies, etc. "Therefore, when children come into the shelter and are ready to start school, Laura's House provides them with a backpack filled with all the necessary school supplies," said Hala Adlouni, Children's Program Facilitator at Laura's House. "At times schools request for additional and specific items, and children feel so relieved to know that they are not any different from their classmates. With the help of Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove, these children will be set and ready to start school. We thank Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove for their generosity and allowing our children to feel just like all of the other kids at school."

"The Do Something 101 campaign is such a great cause. I can't imagine going to school without pencils, notebooks and other basic supplies," said Ciara. "Every little bit counts and, through Do Something 101, the more we can get these essential products to teens, the more we help kids stay in school and excel even further. I look forward to working with DoSomething.org and Staples to spread the word!"

To help kick-off the campaign, Ciara is starring in a public service announcement (PSA) that will air on television and radio stations nationwide through September, and Staples is donating more than $125,000 worth of school supplies to the program.

To learn more about this project, please contact Amie Lynch at 714-530-0430 ext. 925, or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove or how to join, please visit www.bgcgg.org.


ABOUT DOSOMETHING.ORG

DoSomething.org believes teenagers have the power to make a difference. We leverage communications technologies to enable teens to convert their ideas and energy into positive action. We inspire, empower and celebrate a generation of doers: teenagers who recognize the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. Plug in at www.dosomething.org.

ABOUT STAPLES
Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With 2008 sales of $23 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples serves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In July 2008, Staples acquired Corporate Express, one of the world's leading suppliers of office products to businesses and institutions. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.

ABOUT LAURA'S HOUSE
Annually, Laura's House provides residential shelter services to more than 200 women and children, counseling to more than 300 clients, legal services to more than 300 clients and assists with more than 1,700 crisis hot-line calls. The mission of Laura’s House is changing social beliefs, attitudes and the behaviors that perpetuate domestic violence while creating a safe space in which to empower individuals and families affected by abuse.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GARDEN GROVE
For more than 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove (www.bgcgg.org) have been changing and saving young lives, playing an integral role in its community. Striving to help children succeed in life, the Boys & Girls Clubs provide hope and opportunity through after-school programs, family support and community outreach. Known as The Positive Place For Kids, our 57 program sites serve over 5,000 young people from "Diapers to Diplomas," ages 18 months-18 years old, every day.

The Clubs are open daily with programs in character and leadership development, education and career enhancement, the arts, health and life skills, and sports, fitness and recreation. Our family outreach programs such as Family Campus Preschool, REACH For Literacy, Family & Youth Outreach Program (FYOP), ARCHES (Access to Resources for Children's Health, Education and Support), and the Truancy Reduction Program (TRC) expand our services to ensure that the needs of the whole child are met. Through our efforts we do our best to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.