Gear for Grades Program Begins July 22

By: Amanda Gillooly

The academic year may have just ended, but a local business will be kicking off its annual school supply collection.

The preliminary kickoff of the Citizens Bank Gear for Grades initiative will be announced Thursday at Monroeville Mall.

This year's campaign will be in partnership with the Homeless Children's Education Fund, as well as various nonprofit organizations serving the central part of the state.

At the event slated for Thursday, Monroeville Mall will receive the HCEF's Unsung Hero Award for its "longtime support of the organization and its initiatives." Monroeville's mayor, as well as representatives from the bank and the nonprofit will be on hand for the event, which is scheduled to take place from noon to 1 p.m. at the mall food court.

The full initiative will officially begin later this month—on July 22—and will run through Aug. 9. 

Collection bins will be placed in Citizen's Bank location in central and western Pennsylvania. 

And local folks in the Forest Hills-Regent Square area and beyond are asked to participate by donating new items such as pencils, folders, glue, notebooks and other school supplies the day of the event to get the campaign started on the right foot. 
Donations of new school supplies can also be dropped off at any Citizens Bank branch in central and western Pennsylvania beginning July 22. 

Gear for Grades supports the efforts of HCEF each year by providing more than 4,500 children in western Pennsylvania with new backpacks and school supplies. 
HCEF is a nonprofit agency that serves the academic needs of children and youth experiencing homelessness throughout Allegheny County. 

In total, the Gear for Grades initiative has helped more than 215,000 children throughout the bank’s footprint since 2003.

Editor's Note: There are two Citizen's Bank location in the Forest Hills-Regent Square area. The first is located on McCauge Street. The second is located on Ardmore Avenue.