Foundation Grants $25,000 to Support to Low-Income Students in the Greater Phoenix Area

Del E. Webb Foundation Grants $25,000 to Assistance League® of Phoenix for Operation School The Del E. Webb Foundation has granted $25,000 to the Assistance League® of Phoenix (ALP), a nonprofit that provides support to low-income students in the Greater Phoenix Area who are in need of new clothing, shoes, hygiene items and books for school.

“The need for Operation School Bell is growing throughout the Valley,” said Aimee Runyon, CEO of Assistance League of Phoenix. “As second semester starts students across the Valley are in need of new shoes, clothing and hygiene items. We will be hitting the streets and stopping at multiple Valley schools each week to deliver new items to students in need. We couldn’t continue this work without the support from organizations like the Del E. Webb Foundation.”

Operation School Bell is ALP’s flagship program which aims to fulfill basic needs, foster self-esteem, and make sure every single student can enter the classroom ready to learn. The program will help more than 13,000 students this school year.

Assistance League of Phoenix partners with more than 130 Title I schools in the Greater Phoenix Area to bring Operation School Bell to students grades K-8 in need. Each school can select up to 100 children to receive wardrobe packages. To make the program more accessible for underserved and low-income families, ALP utilizes (3) 40ft retrofitted buses called Delivering Dreams Buses, bringing the program directly to the schools. The buses are filled with racks of clothing and shoes, along with private dressing rooms. Corporate/community groups provide volunteers to help each child select clothing and ensure that clothes and shoes fit properly. Each student receives a package of items that include clothing, shoes, hygiene items and a new book valued at approximately $300.