The Puyallup Fair has just committed that donations for the hurricane relief effort will be accepted throughout the Sept. 9-25 event, with funds raised to assist Communities In Schools (CIS). This national organization connects community resources with schools, and was selected as one of the top 100 nonprofits in the U.S. – and one of only 10 in the education category – by Worth magazine.

“The need to assist schools and school children in the hurricane-stricken areas of our country is immediate,” said Kim McKoy, Washington state director of CIS. “We have already been in contact with the Mississippi CIS affiliate, and relayed our state’s commitment to assist their school children, as well as those in Louisiana and Alabama.”

Volunteers from the Washington CIS chapters, including 12 in the Puget Sound region will collect donations in a booth located at the fountain inside the Gold Gate, right next to the American flag.

One-hundred percent of the donations will assist in educational recovery, ranging from repairing or rebuilding schools, restocking school supplies or other related needs. Donations will be sent directly to the CIS chapters in the affected states to meet their most immediate needs for school children. All donations are tax deductible, and receipts will be provided at the collection site, from 10 am – 10 pm daily.

Communities In Schools first started as a grassroots movement in a few cities by Bill Milliken, as he and his colleagues worked with youth throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The “Five Basics” are the cornerstone of their efforts which reach more than 2,000 schools and provide access to nearly two million kids annually. CIS began operating in the state of Washington in 1991. For more information, visit http://www.ciswa.org.

This is not the first time that the Puyallup Fair has assisted with national emergencies by providing booth space, gate passes for workers, and numerous other needs in a high visibility, trafficked area for donation efforts. In 2001, the Puyallup Fair held a tribute for the Sept. 11 tragedy, as well as having a booth and workers to collect donations for the American Red Cross.

The Puyallup Fair first started in 1900, and continues its mission to support educational efforts for children. This Pacific Northwest tradition features top name entertainment, the PRCA Rodeo, rides, exhibits, food, flowers, and animals. For further information about the Sept. 9-25, 2005 Puyallup Fair, visit our website at http://www.thefair.com or call the 24-hour hotline at (253) 841-5045.