2009 CAMPAIGN RECAP...Nearly 24,000 coats were collected as part of the 2009 campaign. Of those, just over 16,400 were distributed by the Salvation Army and Coats for Kids at the annual distribution of coats, toys and holiday food at The Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University on Thursday, December 17. An additional 2,700+ coats were distributed on later dates to other organizations serving children in need.

PANERA BREAD MAKES 2009 CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION...Brittany Bialowas, director of marketing & PR for Covelli Enterprises, a franchisee of Panera Bread, was in the WTAM 1100 studio in mid-February, on-air with Bill Wills to present a check for $12,463.92 to Coats for Kids. This donation represents the total dollars raised during Panera's December Operation Dough Nation campaign where customers drop change into collection containers at cash registers; as well as monies raised in the one-day Panera Shares the Warmth campaign, where all who donated $5 or more to Coats for Kids received a coupon good for a free You Pick Two on a future visit. Thanks to all who supported Coats for Kids by making a donation at participating Panera Bread locations!

DISCOUNT DRUG MART CAMPAIGN RAISES THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS...Discount Drug Mart's 2009 Coats for Kids campaign -- selling paper "coats" for $1 in their area locations -- resulted in a donation to Coats for Kids of more than $54,000! Thank you to everyone at Discount Drug Mart for their support, and to the many individuals who bought a "coat" at their local Drug Mart!  

BEDFORD AUTOMOBILE SPONSORS 2009 COAT MOBILE! A huge thank you goes out to the 15 auto dealers of the Bedford Automobile Dealers Association for their generous sponsorship of the 2009 Coats for Kids Coat Mobile (which traveled around to pick up donated coats from the various drop off locations).