26 th Annual Coats for Kids, Inc., Golf Scramble Fundraiser is July 24

Press Release from Matt Donkin, Regional Office of Education #21

As the calendar turns to July, we will wish of cooler days of fall and winter. With that in mind, the 26^th Annual Egyptian Building Trades Coats for Kids, Inc., Golf Scramble will be held on Monday, July 24. 2017, at the Franklin County Country Club, south of West Frankfort. Registration will be at 7 AM and a Shotgun Start will commence at 8 AM. There will be three AM Flights and lunch and awards will happen at noon.

The Golf Scramble will raise money to provide for the needs of our most vulnerable children. Kids throughout 18 counties in Southern Illinois are provided coats, gloves, socks, shoes, shirts, and pants through a coordinated effort of the Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) in the area.

Thousands of kids have had their winter clothing needs met over the past 25 years through Coats for Kids, Inc. as EBT has raised over a half a million dollars. Schools participate in the program by identifying kids to their ROE, who then authorize them to shop for new coats and other clothing items for the students. Schools are then reimbursed for their costs.

This program is administered by three Regional Superintendents of Schools who cover the 18-county area. New Regional Superintendent Lorie LeQuatte (Franklin-Johnson-Massac-Williamson) will work with fellow Regional Superintendents Larry Fillingim (Edwards-Gallatin-Hamilton-Hardin-Pope-Saline-WabashWayne-White Counties) and Cheryl Graff (Alexander-Jackson-Perry-Pulaski-Union Counties) to distribute the funds raised in the program and cover administrative and overhead costs.

If you would like to play or be a sponsor, tax deductible contributions can be made by calling the IBEW Local 702 Union Hall at (618) 932-2102, extension 222. For more information, you can also call the Franklin-Johnson-Massac-Williamson Regional Office of Education 1 at (618) 438-9711 and dial “0.”.

In late fall, teachers in schools across the area request the coats and clothing for children in need in their schools and then go shopping for them. It is hoped that Coats for Kids can continue to raise the necessary funds to serve these children.