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Maurices customers choose store’s donation
By Connie Beard
Published September 19, 2009
The Children’s Advocacy Center of Paris recently received a donation from maurices, a fashion retail store in Mirabeau Shopping Center.
“Our staff here at the CAC is excited about the potential to partner with maurices on their community outreach. They are making a difference by helping change what happens next in the life of a child for the better,” said Mitzi White, executive director of the CAC.
The donation was part of the one-year anniversary of the maurices store in Paris. The corporate office provided the $500 donation and local customers voted for which charity the funds would be presented to.
“Our customers determined where the money went,” said Kay McMellon, store manager. “It was exciting to see the response from the community and the number of individuals who came out to submit their charity of choice.” More than 160 community members cast ballots.
“Funds donated enable the CAC to provide direct services as well as supply the in-kind community matching funds required by the various grants provided to the CAC in order to operate,” White said.
The CAC serves child victims, including those who have been sexually abused, severely physically abused, drug endangered or have witnessed domestic violence. Staff at the CAC provide referrals for counseling, medical evaluation and treatment, as well as clothing and personal hygiene items for the young victims.
The majority of funds the CAC uses come from the CACTX (Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas), Victims of Crime/Criminal Justice Division, local business and individual support, United Way and the National Children’s Alliance.
“Legacy Foundation and the St. Joseph’s Community Foundation have also been very supportive of our SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program by providing grant funding to purchase medical equipment and provide training for these specialized nurses utilized at the CAC,” White said.
Funds are donated to the CAC from local businesses throughout the year.
“We are truly blessed to live in a community that understands and supports the needs of those less fortunate. Local businesses show a high degree of social responsibility when it comes to helping our kids,” White said.
“Maurices’ gift to the center shows this company’s social responsibility to support the communities of which they are a part. I wish every business and individual that supports the CAC could see the happy and hopeful faces of the children we are able to provide with school supplies, new shoes and clothes. None of this could be possible without the generous support of those in our community such as maurices,” White said.
In addition to the $500 donation to The CAC, maurices plans to continue to reach out into the community. Upcoming plans include a fashion show at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Paris Sports Complex at Love Civic Center. Proceeds will be donated to the Lamar County Humane Association. The store is currently taking donations, such as pet food and kitty litter, as part of a silent auction during the fashion show.
The store also plans an October Coats for Kids coat drive, a November canned food drive and a toy drive in December.
“Maurices as a company that encourages stores to be involved in the community. Hopefully, we can make an impact as well,” McMellon said.
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