The Kimpton Gray Hotel partners with nonprofit organization Daisie Foundation to bring much-needed school supplies to students at the South Side Chicago school.
In preparation to head back to school this fall, the students at Perkins Bass Elementary School will receive new backpacks and much-needed school supplies. The Kimpton Gray Hotel, in its ongoing community-building partnership with Chicago’s Daisie Foundation, has kicked off a citywide backpack drive to benefit the Englewood school, located on the South Side.
With an ambitious goal to collect over 500 backpacks filled with school supplies, the four Kimpton Chicago hotels, as a part of Kimpton Cares — Kimpton Hotels & Restaurant’s philanthropic volunteer organization —are all joining in on the effort to raise funds and help Principal Carolyn Jones in her commitment to improve the quality of the school and lives of the students.
“The partnership has been instrumental in providing exposure to supplemental learning opportunities that we couldn’t otherwise provide as a school,” says Jones. “Far too often people take for granted clean clothing, school supplies, book bags, the items that are vital to the function of the school day for students.”
In addition to the backpack drive, local artist Jason Farley created a one-of-a-kind piece inspired by the students and Kimpton’s commitment to social responsibility. Valued at $1,600, the canvas artwork will be on display throughout July and August in The Gray Hotel’s living room lobby and auctioned off to the highest bidder. All proceeds will be donated to the backpack drive.
“As a small child, my family moved from Detroit, MI to Gary, IN and I’ve seen first-hand at the impact of how poverty has on society and the stress it places on families,” says Farley, who will also join Kimpton delivering the backpacks and will create a live installation on-site with help and participation from the students themselves. “Small contributions can generate hope and create change.”
To maximize fundraising efforts even further, The Gray Hotel has dedicated proceeds from this month’s purple lapel pin to benefit the Daisie Foundation and the backpack drive. The hotel’s monthly lapel pin program offers exclusive Tie Bar designed for sale to the public in colors that correspond to that month’s chosen cause.
Finally, all four Kimpton Chicago properties are offering a package to benefit Daisie Foundation until the end of 2019. This package has already generated over $2,000 to the cause.
