January 12, 2005

Volunteers to paint Glen Acres Elementary School

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Volunteers from Purdue University and numerous local businesses and organizations will paint the interior of Glen Acres Elementary School in Lafayette on Monday (Jan. 17) in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The project will take place between 9 a.m. and approximately 1 p.m. at Glen Acres, 3767 Kimberly Drive. More than 200 volunteers from more than 20 area businesses and organizations are expected to participate, including more than 75 volunteers from Purdue's offices of Advancement and Engagement, the Boiler Volunteer Network, Purdue Paint Shop, Sigma Nu and Theta Tau fraternities, and Intercollegiate Athletics.

"The response of the Purdue and local communities has been tremendous," said Mike Piggott, director of community relations and visitor information at Purdue. "The school was built in 1970 and is showing a good deal of wear. My hope is that, with four to six volunteers in each room, we can do the project in just a few hours."

A brief how-to-paint clinic, conducted by professional painters, including Larry Gibson of Gibson Painting, will begin at 9 a.m. for those volunteers who want to sharpen their painting skills. Painting of the school, which would have cost an estimated $30,000 if done professionally, will then take place between approximately 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

General manager Tom Shorter has arranged for Von Tobel Lumber & Hardware to provide painting supplies, while State Farm Insurance will provide both furniture for the refurbished school and a professional maintenance crew for the painting project. Purdue's Office of Engagement allocated $500 toward supplies as well.

"Purdue has a wonderful after-school program for the Hispanic students at Glen Acres, where about one-third of the students are Hispanic," Piggott said. "Our 300-level Spanish students conduct a homework club for Hispanic students as a service-learning project, and we are interested in expanding the after-school program to reach out to all of the Glen Acres students needing help.

"However, the school wants to make some facility improvements first. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an ideal time to take on this project. King's life was dedicated to spreading a message of tolerance, diversity and service."

Other organizations involved in the project include area Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, the Breakfast Optimist Club, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Center, Leadership Lafayette, National Youth Sports Program, Greater Lafayette Ambassadors, Faith Baptist Church, Home and St. Elizabeth hospitals, Ivy Tech State College, Lafayette city government, Lafayette School Board, Lafayette Community Bank, Caterpillar Inc., Eli Lilly and Co., Vectren Corp., Cinergy/PSI Energy, the Human Relations Commission and Diversity Roundtable, local Girl Scouts organizations, and members of Purdue's Sigma Nu and Theta Tau fraternities.

Writer: Aaron Martin, (765) 496-3133, martinac@purdue.edu

Sources: Mike Piggott, director of community relations and visitor information, (765) 494-4636, piggott@purdue.edu

Larry Gibson, Gibson Painting owner and manager, (765) 429-5340

Tom Shorter, Von Tobel Lumber & Hardware general manager, (765) 448-1525

Karen Combs, Glen Acres Elementary School principal, (765) 771-6150

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Journalists can cover the painting project at Glen Acres Elementary School. To make arrangements, contact Karen Combs, principal of Glen Acres, at (765) 771-6150.

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