77th Street Area Book Drive and Distribution

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, March 7, 2000

"77th Street Area Book Drive/Distribution"

Los Angeles – On Wednesday, March 8, 2000, officers from the 77th Street Area will be distributing 6,000 donated books to two elementary schools in the area 77th Street officers serve. The book distribution endeavor is resultant from a Los Angeles Times article written by Sandy Banks that was published on January 18, 2000.

Sandy Banks’ article was a compelling testimony to the death of books available to children attending schools in the inner city. Consequentially, the officers from the 77th Street Area generated a ‘book drive’ which resulted in the collection of over 6,000 new and used elementary-age schoolbooks. Additionally, family members of the officers from the Division expressed a strong interest in supporting the Division’s effort to donate books to two public elementary school libraries. Specifically, the leadership class at Royal High School in Simi Valley initiated a ‘book service project’ in concert with the Division’s book drive – the theme of "communities and children supporting other communities and children" was the Royal High School’s primary goal with this undertaking.

Three thousand books will be distributed to the Seventy-Fifth Street Elementary School, 142 W. 75 Street, at 12:00 p.m.; and three thousand books will be distributed to the Loren Miller Elementary School, 830 W. 77 Street, at 2:00 p.m., on Wednesday, March 8, 2000. It is anticipated that the schools receiving the books will have a short celebration recognizing the efforts of the officers from the 77th Street Area and student representatives from Royal High School.

Ms. Sandy Banks will be available for interviews at the Seventy-Fifth Street Elementary School during the distribution of books.

In the event there are any additional questions regarding this undertaking, Lieutenant Michael Albanese, can be contacted at 213-485-4164, to respond to any inquires.

For Release 9:00 am PST
March 7, 2000