Media Contact: Janice Hickey
Director, Educational Services
El Segundo Unified School District
641 Sheldon Avenue
El Segundo, CA. 90245
(310) 615-2650 x 250
Alaska Has Nothing on the “Women of the Moose” of El Segundo
Local group of “Moose Women” Host Fund Raiser for Center Street Elementary
El Segundo, CA. – September 22, 2008 – “S.B.4.E” Project Coordinator Beverly Greeno, along with her sidekick Mary Randall, excitedly treated the Center Street faculty to boxed and wrapped goodies as a “welcome back” present for all the teachers gathered in the Center Street Library on Monday afternoon.
Second grade teacher JoAnne Bowdre, who is herself a member of the “Women of the Moose,” explained to the gathering that these women are dedicated to supporting local Moose Lodges across the United States and Canada. Their mid-summer community service project for the teachers, “S.B.4.E.” – or “Shoe Boxes for Education,” was a clever and extremely creative way to gather classroom supplies and donations for the teachers and their students. The shoe boxes were gathered from local merchants, then hand decorated and wrapped in colorful wrapping paper, turning each shoebox into a special work of art of its own. As Joanne Bowdre exclaimed to howls of laughter from her fellow professionals, “Are you kidding? We love this! Teachers love anything free!”
Principal Marisa Janicek warmly welcomed the pair, reminding the group that Mary Randall was in a way coming full circle – having been one of the first students to attend Center Street School when it first opened. And Mary wasn’t the only one to have close community ties. Beverly Greeno’s sister, Ann Hancock, is the registrar at Richmond Street Elementary, Center Street’s sister school right across town.
“It is so special that the community of El Segundo is so tightly knit and so willing to open their hearts to the people responsible for providing their children with a fantastic education. This is especially appreciated right now when we’re getting into the swim of things and all the teachers have so much on their plates,” Principal Janicek said to voice the faculty’s thanks to this dynamic duo.
Greeno and Randall talked also about several different outlets the Moose Women have for getting involved with children: Moose Hearts, and Moose Haven, both programs that work with children who life has in some way passed by. They also have programs tied to the local fire and police departments, to give them supplies to take with them when dealing with trauma affecting children. “We have almost 127 women who are members of our group,” Greeno told the Center Street staff. But it’s not just the women who were involved in this project. As a matter of fact, quite a few members of the Moose Lodge showed up trudging big boxes of school supplies and donations, ready and willing to join the women’s efforts.
From the squeals of delight as teachers circled library tables, picking up elegantly wrapped boxes, asking excitedly if “shaking them” was fair game to help figure out what was inside, it became quickly apparent that the teachers’ excitement and joy mirrored by their students is truly a two-way street. And Beverly Greeno and Mary Randall enjoyed front row seats to enjoy the fruits of their much appreciated efforts.