PHILADELPHIA/ NOVEMBER 01, 2018/ Operation Warm, a national nonprofit that creates brand new, high-quality coats and gives them away to children in need, kicked off its “3 Millionth Coat Tour” campaign, a season-long effort highlighting Operation Warm and its partners’ coat giving initiatives in over a dozen cities across the country, with Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Operation Warm partnered with Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers on the first stop of the “3 Millionth Coat Tour” by providing 750 brand new winter coats to every student at William Cramp Elementary School in Philadelphia.
Simmons and the 76ers visited the school to personally fit each child with a brand new coat in a bright, kid-friendly color and to help them write their name on a label that reads, “Made Just for You.”
“These are the moments I look forward to all season,” says Simmons, 2017-18 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year. “Thank you to the Sixers and Operation Warm for helping me make sure we get coats to kids that need them.”
Operation Warm’s “3 Millionth Coat Tour” campaign will continue to highlight key partnerships in dozens of cities across the United States in celebration of the organization’s 20th anniversary and an effort to serve its 3 millionth child.
“We’re launching our 20th year of serving children and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than by highlighting our hardworking partners,” explains Dick Sanford, Operation Warm founder and CEO. “We have both seen time and again that giving a brand new coats to children not only provides warmth, but also boosts their self-esteem, school attendance and the opportunity to play outside. Our partner’s passion and dedication to our shared mission will help drive us toward reaching our 3 millionth child.”
Operation Warm and their partners hope to serve over 1,200 communities across North America this season. The 3 Millionth Coat Tour plans to highlight a dozen coat events in cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Baton Rouge.
To learn more about Operation Warm’s “3 Millionth Coat Tour” campaign, visit Operationwarm.org/3million.