CVC members really delivered for Irving and Bradley School students in Derby as they provided over 200 of them with new clothes for the school year.

Photos by Fred Ortoli

Click here for the photo album form the student party.

It was a very festive afternoon at Irving School in Derby as members of the Corporate Volunteer Council brightened the day and the new school year for more than 200 children who will now return to school with new clothing, backpacks and school supplies thanks to the CVC. CVC members had spent the summer shopping for the students and on Thursday, they had the opportunity to meet them and to present them with festive boxes full of clothing and encouragement for a bright year ahead.

Each student received two complete clothing outfits, a pair of sneakers, a winter coat and a backpack full of school supplies. Just as important, they received encouragement from the employees of the participating companies who were present for a new school year.

There was a brief speaking program that included Mayor Anthony Staffieri, Superintendent of Schools Stephen Tracy, Principals Fran Gallo and Linda Coppola as well as United Way representatives Mike Marcinek, Jack Walsh and Pat Tarasovic. Everyone was also treated to cookies and lemonade courtesy of Dave Grant Caterers and ice cream courtesy of Pitney Bowes.

Everyone was treated to a special treat as Fran Scarpa and her students from Center Stage in Shelton entertained the audience with several Broadway show tunes.

All told, 42 companies clothed 212 children at an estimated total value of  over $42,000. We want to thank the real stars of the day - the 42 organizations that purchased the clothing:

An earlier video & story:

The Corporate Volunteer Council has chosen Irving and Bradley Elementary schools in Derby to be the recipients of this year's Back to School Clothes for Kids program. This is the 14th year for the program which partners area business in helping to clothe needy children for a new school year. In making the announcement, Volunteer Center Director Pat Tarasovic noted that this would be the fourth time that the program has been offered at Irving School. The very first program in 1996 clothed 112 children at Irving, an additional 104 were clothed in 2001 and in 2005 the total shot up to 174. With the addition of Bradley school this year, the CVC expects to clothe well over 200 children.

Superintendent of Schools Stephen Tracy and Bradley School Principal Linda Coppola stopped by the recent CVC meeting where the announcement was made to thank the members of the CVC for choosing the Derby schools and to give CVC members some background information about the schools and the needs of the children.

The schools are busy compiling profiles for CVC members documenting clothing sizes and interests of the the children. This is done completely anonymously to protect the privacy of the children. CVC members then receive the profiles and spend the summer shopping for their students. The week before the schools open in lat August, there will be a party for the children at Irving School where they will receive the clothing and words of encouragement from the corporate community.

Each student will receive two complete outfits for school along with a winter coat, a pair of sneakers and a backpack of school supplies. The intent is to give positive encouragement to the students at the beginning of the new school year. 

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