Who:
- The students of Joplin's Irving Elementary School
- Dr. Debbie Fort, Irving Elementary School principal, faculty and staff
- Payless representatives from the company's headquarters and field team
What:
- Bike delivery event -- each child will leave school with his/her new bike!
Where: Irving Elementary's Temporary School: 1112 E. 2nd Street, Joplin MO; In auditorium & outdoor school grounds
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 9:30 - 11 a.m. Press check-in at 9 a.m.
Why:
- The community of Joplin has lost so much; the tornado destroyed Irving Elementary School, as well as many of the students' homes,possessions and toys.
- Payless wants to give back in a creative way that helps the children heal, and builds a deeper connection for its associates to the Joplin community.
- A bike is every kid's necessity -- it represents fun, freedom and transportation.
- At the Payless annual meeting held earlier in Feb. in Kansas City more than 370 Payless associates teamed with volunteers from The Bike Shop to personally build 215 bikes -- one for every student at Irving Elementary.
- The bikes are being presented AS A SURPRISE on Valentine's Day as a special gift to the kids.
Important Note to Media: this is an invitation to come to the event; please don't cover this news until the event on Feb. 14.
Photo Opportunity:
- Following brief comments from Dr. Fort and Payless representatives, the bikes will be distributed to each student on Valentine's Day.
- Each student will receive a bike, helmet and bike lock. Each bike was customized by color preference and the child's height.
- Come photograph the excitement and interview the kids.
- Photos of Payless associates building the bikes this past Monday are also available to the press.
Additional Support for Joplin:
- Payless has been a member of Joplin for 19 years with two store locations.
- Immediately following the tornado, Payless also supported the local Joplin community to help meet another basic need -- shoes -- and delivered 6,000 pairs of shoes to those in need.
- Payless also made a financial donation through the company's Foundation to the American Red Cross to aid in the cleanup efforts.
- Building Back Better -- Payless' store on Range Line Road was destroyed by the tornado. The newly constructed store was recently re-opened on Jan. 27.
Press Contact/Special Requests:
Payless ShoeSource:
Stephanie Waugh
785-368-6176 (O)
785-375-0610 (M)
stephanie.waugh@collectivebrands.com
/PRNewswire-- Feb. 9, 2012/
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060627/CGTU040LOGO-b)
SOURCE Payless ShoeSource
