Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities Donate 1,600 Uniforms for Kids In Need

Lindsey Overby, Fossil; Pat Smith; Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson; Salem Boohaker, Belk Galleria Dallas;
Carol Roberts, Albertsons/Tom Thumb and Emmitt Smith accept thank you plaques from students at
Roger Q. Mills Elementary School

It's easy to look at Pat and Emmitt Smith and only see the glitz and glamour. From the NFL Hall of Fame to celebrity golf tournaments to red carpet galas, the Smiths embody Dallas beauty and success. Much like Texas itself, everything about them is bigger and better. What a lot of people don't always see is that this "bigness" also includes their generosity to kids in need through their work at Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities.

Emmitt Smith speaks to students at
Earl Dade Middle School

A perfect example is the back-to-school uniform drive they hosted on August 13th with several corporate partners to benefit two under-served Dallas ISD schools. Each year, thousands of North Texas families in need struggle to pay for school uniforms. As more schools require uniforms, some families have difficulty in providing adequate clothing for their children.

Belk created pop-up shops in the gymnasiums at Roger Q. Mills Elementary School and Billy Earl Dade Middle School to make new uniforms available to all current students. The donation of new, high-quality clothing from PESC and Belk will help to level the playing field for these families as they gear up for back-to-school. As their publicist, I had a front row seat to the excitement of the day.

“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.” This was 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 Dallas ISD students.

Pat Smith helps a Dade Middle School student select her new school uniform

At Roger Q. Mills Elementary School, PESC was honored to have the Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson attend the ceremony. Her advice to students? "Read. Study. Pray and drink water. That's what will ensure your success." Now, that's great advice for all kids of all ages! As an added surprise for Billy Earl Dade Middle School students, Carol Roberts announced that Albertsons would be donating 500,000 Campbell's e-label points that the school can redeem for athletic and technology equipment. The Campbell's Labels for Education program is a school fund raising program designed with busy families in mind as an alternative to traditional fund raising. By saving and redeeming product UPCs and beverage/sauce caps from participating products schools can earn free educational merchandise, such as computers, software, sports equipment, musical instruments, library books and even a minivan. For more information about Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, visit http://www.emmittsmith.com/pat-and-emmitt-smith-charities

Carol Roberts announcing that Albertsons would donate 500,000 Campbell's e-label points Dade Middle School can redeem for athletic and technology equipment.

Emmitt Smith and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson share a hug at Mills Elementary School

Shoppers search for their children's sizes at Mills Elementary school