Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities representatives, along with employees of Belk Galleria Dallas provided uniforms for two underserved DISD schools today. Belk pop-up shops at Roger Q. Mills Elementary School and Billy Earl Dade Middle School made new uniforms available to all current students.

“We feel a need to ease the stress and challenges these families endure with affording new uniforms at the start of every school year,” said Pat Smith. “We want to ensure these students start school without worrying about basic necessities, like a uniform.”

This is the second year Belk has supported the initiative, doubling its donations to over 1,600 uniforms this year. To date, Belk has donated more than 2,400 uniforms, a value of more than $94,000, for DISD students.

“Our annual uniform donation program was created to help families who struggle to make ends meet in cities across our footprint,” said Jessica Graham, Vice President of Communications and Community Relations at Belk. “We are so happy to collaborate with Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities to bring this initiative back to Dallas.”

The program began with a short motivational talk at each location to emphasize the importance of an education and to help the children and their families get excited about the new school year. Belk created a pop-up shop on-site at each school location for the children to shop and take home a new uniform that day. The donation of new, high-quality clothing from PESC and Belk helps to level the playing field for these families as they gear up for back-to-school.

“Education is the cornerstone to achieve what you want in life,” said Emmitt Smith. “Pat and I are honored that Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities has been able to help students in the North Texas community obtain the uniforms they need, while instilling confidence and enthusiasm to attend school.”

About Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities
Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities (PESC) is a 501(c)(3) public charity that creates and funds unique educational experiences and enrichment opportunities for underserved children. Focusing primarily in North Texas, PESC’s TEAM 22 program partners with established organizations to provide a multi-year curriculum for underserved students, accessing and funding opportunities such as a summer camp, tutoring and leadership training. In addition, PESC funds existing children’s programs in North Texas through its annual grant application process. Learn more at http://www.emmittsmith.com/pat-and-emmitt-smith-charities.

About Belk, Inc.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. (www.belk.com) is the nation’s largest family owned and operated department store company with 297 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states and a growing digital presence. Its belk.com website offers a wide assortment of national brands and private label fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home. Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., the company is in the third generation of Belk family leadership and has been committed to community involvement since its inception. In the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, the company and its associates, customers and vendors donated more than $21.5 million to communities within Belk market areas.

Edited Media Advisory
Image via True Point Communications. Photo Credit: James Edward