Communities In Schools Launches Partnership With Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.)

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Feb 18, 2010, 10:27 ET

Innovative Partnership Will Provide Donated Products to Nationwide Network

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Communities In Schools, the leading organization dedicated to empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life, today announced a partnership with Kids In Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) that will provide CIS students nationwide with clothes, shoes, furniture, books and other products donated by name-brand manufacturers and retailers.

"We're grateful to K.I.D.S. for making their vast resources available to our nationwide network of affiliates," said Daniel J. Cardinali, president of Communities In Schools. "And we're particularly grateful to U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV-01) who helped bring this partnership to fruition."

Piloted by Communities In Schools Nevada, the partnership is now being rolled out nationwide. As the program is launched, CIS will survey its affiliates to determine areas of greatest need, and work with K.I.D.S. to obtain products that best meet the needs of the 1.4 million young people that CIS serves.

"We're thrilled to be partnering with Communities In Schools, and pleased that through the generous support of our industry partners we're able to assist CIS with its vital mission," said Janice Weinman, President of K.I.D.S.

About Communities In Schools

Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through a school-based coordinator, Communities In Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs.

Working in more than 3,200 schools, in the most challenged communities, in 26 states, and the District of Columbia, Communities In Schools serves nearly 1.4 million young people and their families every year. Communities In Schools has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates. Visit our website at www.communitiesinschools.org.

About K.I.D.S.

K.I.D.S. brings hope and self-esteem to more than 4.5 million children and their families each year by providing new clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books and juvenile products donated by manufacturers and retailers. The donations are distributed through a network of nearly 1,000 local community social service agencies in the U.S. and abroad. Our efforts reach children who are challenged by poverty, homelessness, domestic abuse, low literacy, military family service, major illness, incarcerated family members and disaster survival.

SOURCE Communities In Schools