Last year’s Operation School Supplies (OSS) raised more than $150,000, benefited more than 17,000 local children in 181 schools and received national, regional and local recognition.

Now, Houston Alumni Organization (HAO), Houston Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and H-E-B officials hope to repeat their success with the help of the annual University of Houston OSS campus drive, which runs through July 28. This year’s campus goal is more than $2,000 and five truck loads of supplies.

“I heard a lot of positive comments that the staff enjoyed participating in the drive, whether it was purchasing supplies or donating money, so we plan on doing both again this year,” Kathy Anzivino, chair of the campus drive.

During the drive, faculty, staff and students can leave school supplies in the collection bins at various campus locations. All funds collected for sponsorship will help HAO to purchase and donate UH pencils to students in targeted schools. The drive will include a contest to encourage school and district sponsorships. Prizes will be awarded to the UH department raising the most money and collecting the most supplies.

The campus drive is part of the citywide OSS, which runs through July 26.

During the citywide drive, Houstonians can bring school supplies to area H-E-B grocery stores, purchase Coca-Cola products and contribute cash through the scan card system. A portion of the revenues generated from the sale of Coca-Cola products will be donated to OSS.

Additionally, Houstonians can participate in OSS Day at Timber Creek Golf Club on July 24. On that day, 50 percent of the club’s green fees will be donated to the campaign. For information, visit www.timbercreekgolfclub.com.

OSS sponsors include FOX 26 KRIV-Houston, KTXH-MY 20, the Houston Zoo, Clear Channel (Sunny 99.1), the Houston Astros, the United Way of Texas Gulf Coast and Houston Community Newspapers.

Over the past 15 years, OSS has raised more than $1.2 million and has received much praise. Earlier this year, Leadership Houston, a nonprofit corporation, presented OSS sponsors with its 2006 Leadership in Action Award in the education category. OSS also received the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District IV Outstanding Alumni Relations Program Award and a national CASE Grand Gold Award in the Alumni Relations Programs category for OSS.

For more information on the OSS campus drive, contact Kathy Anzivino at 713-743-5478 or KAnzivino@uh.edu. For more information on the OSS citywide drive, visit HAO’s Web site at http://www.myCougarConnection.com/oss/.

Francine Parker
fparker@central.uh.edu