Simon Says: Help send a kid back to school
I see excited kids and their parents at every store I visit these days. I heard on National Public Radio that the average American family spends $600â“700 on back-to-school supplies. Unfortunately, there are many families in Orleans Parish that simply can't afford new binders, book covers, pencil cases or crayons.
The Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund is a nonprofit organization that is a partner with the Tulane Center for Public Service. The fund was founded in 2007 in memory of Dinerral Shavers, a member of the Hot 8 Brass Band, New Orleans civil sheriff, entrepreneur, educator and band director at a local high school, who was murdered. The supplies will be given away at the 5th annual Back to School Extravaganza from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center.
School supplies and donations can be dropped off to these members of the Staff Advisory Council:
Sharon Hyde Augillard, Undergraduate Admissions, 123 Gibson Hall
Alice Buss, School of Medicine Training and Assessment of Professional Skills Program, 1555 Poydras, room 2277
Miriam Espinosa, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Administration Office, 2nd floor
Jen Huber, School of Medicine, Endocrinology Section, 1430 Tulane Ave., room 7561
Lyndsie Kivell, Office of Student Conduct, Lavin-Bernick Center, Suite G02, room G02G
Jackie Rouege, Dining and Auxiliary Services, 110 Butler House
Joan Turner, Sponsored Projects Administration, Elks Place, 2nd floor Cathy Woodard, Tulane University Medical Group, 1440 Canal St., 14th floor
For monetary donations, make checks payable to the Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund.
For more information, email Jen Huber, who is spearheading the drive, or call 504-988-4645.
Fran Simon is managing editor of New Wave.
