[Press Conference: “Mayor's Back 2 School Fest Details”]
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IMPORTANT EVENT FOR THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK.MY NAME IS AMY REAGAN AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE GIFTS OFFICER FOR HOUSTON FOOD BANK.
UH, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO, UM, WELCOME, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIAN RAMIREZ AT LARGE POSITION ONE.
SO JULIAN, IF YOU, YOU'LL COME FORWARD.
I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS EVENT AND ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR THE 14TH ANNUAL MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY SHELL, UH, MAYOR WHITMEYER COULD NOT BE HERE THIS MORNING, BUT HE'S ASKED ME TO STAND IN FOR HIM AND I'M HAPPY TO DO SO.
THIS YEAR'S EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE GEORGE R. BROWN CONVENTION CENTER IN EXHIBIT PAUL'S A AND B AND WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, AUGUST THE THIRD FROM 8:00 AM TO 2:00 PM STAND WITH ME.
HERE TODAY IS OUR TITLE SPONSOR.
REPRESENTING OUR TITLE SPONSOR IS CHRISTINA JONES, VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WITH SHELL USA, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER, AMY REAGAN WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK AND ANNA CARPENTER FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WHO WILL OFFER REMARKS IN SPANISH AS WELL.
THE FOLKS YOU SEE BEHIND ME IN THE YELLOW SHIRTS ARE VOLUNTEERS FROM SHELL, AND OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS, WE'LL SEE 250 OF THEM HERE DEVOTING THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO THIS EFFORT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK TEAM FOR THEIR TIME IN RECEIVING MATERIALS AND ORGANIZING THE BACKPACKS EFFICIENTLY THIS YEAR.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL HOUSTONIANS FOR STICKING TOGETHER AND HELPING EACH OTHER THROUGH HURRICANE BARREL.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES OUT TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK.
YOUR COMMITMENT AND SERVICE ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED AND DO NOT GO UNNOTICED WHEN THESE DEVASTATING EVENTS OCCUR.
SO MUCH OF OUR LIFE IS UPENDED.
PEOPLE HAVE HAD DAMAGE TO THEIR HOMES, MANY HAVE HAD TO THROW OUT FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SUPPLIES.
SO NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE READY FOR SCHOOL.
IN ADDITION TO A BACKPACK WITH BASIC SUPPLIES, WE WILL AGAIN OFFER UP VACCINATION HEALTH AND DENTAL SCREENINGS AND SO MUCH MORE, INCLUDING FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, FOOD PRODUCE WILL BE OFFERED AS WELL.
PARENTS, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IF YOUR CHILDREN HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE REQUIRED VACCINATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, YOU MAY BRING THEM TO THE BACK TO SCHOOL FESTIVAL TO RECEIVE ALL THEIR VACCINATIONS AT NO CHARGE.
I WANT TO THANK THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FROM YEAR ONE FOR ENABLING US TO OFFER THESE SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE OTHER HEALTH AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES WHO NEED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.
FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO VISIT BOOTH THROUGHOUT THE EVENT AND PICK UP A VARIETY OF ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
AGAIN, THE BACK TO SCHOOL FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD AT THE GEORGE BROWN CONVENTION CENTER AT EXHIBIT HALLS A AND B AND WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, AUGUST THE THIRD FROM 8:00 AM TO 2:00 PM FOR THE 14TH CONSERVATIVE, UH, CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
OUR GENEROUS PRESENTING SPONSOR IS SHELL USA.
PLEASE WELCOME CHRISTINA JONES, VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WITH SHELL.
I'M HONORED TO STAND WITH COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ AND AMY REAGAN TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT ALLOW US TO TOGETHER BE PART OF MOVING EVERYBODY FORWARD.
FROM EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS.
AT SHELL USA, WE ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE MORE AND CLEANER ENERGY.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE ENERGY THAT THE WORLD NEEDS TODAY WHILE BUILDING THE ENERGY SYSTEMS OF TOMORROW TO REALIZE A JUST SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUTURE FOR EVERYBODY.
WE ARE PROUD TO HELP TODAY'S STUDENTS BE PREPARED TO LEAD THE WAY WHEN IT IS THEIR TURN.
EQUIPPING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS IS AS IMPORTANT TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY AS IT IS TO ALL OF US.
AS A BROADER COMMUNITY, SHELL'S CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITTING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND TO HELP TO GROW THE FUTURE SUPPLY OF DIVERSE TALENT IN THE AREAS OF
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CRITICAL WORKFORCE SKILL SHORTAGES.THIS WILL HELP TO KEEP HOUSTON THRIVING AND COMPETITIVE.
WE CAN ALL TAKE PRIDE IN KNOWING THAT THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING IS HELPING TO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE COLLABORATION OF OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS, OUR WONDERFUL EDUCATORS AND EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS THAT WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THIS COMES TOGETHER SMOOTHLY.
ABOUT 250 VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PREPARING 25,000 BACKPACKS FULL OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HURRICANE GUIDES, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE INFORMATION FOR OUR CHILDREN ALL AROUND HOUSTON.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO WORK TO ENGAGE IN THIS ANNUAL EVENT, DEDICATING YOUR TIME AND YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR ENERGY TO OUR STUDENTS OF HOUSTON, COUNCILMAN RAMIREZ, THANK YOU YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THEIR WONDERFUL TEAM THERE FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS AND TO ALL OF YOU, THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU BRING THIS TO LIFE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR, HOUSTON.
R BROWN, EL RAMIREZ, JONES, AND, UH, AMY REAGAN.
I, AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER, WANT TO THANK CHRISTINA AND SHELL USA, OUR PARTNER, AMY REAGAN AND THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK TEAM FOR SPONSORING THIS EVENT.
WE KNOW THAT THE RETURN OF STUDENTS TO SCHOOL HELPS NORMALIZE MANY SITUATIONS AND ALLOWS OUR SCHEDULES TO RETURN TO THEIR NORMAL ROUTINES.
WE HOPE THAT THE SUPPLIES TO BE DISTRIBUTED THIS SATURDAY OR SATURDAY, AUGUST THE THIRD, WILL MAKE THE TRANSITION TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR THAT MUCH EASIER.
PLEASE PRE-REGISTER YOUR CHILDREN@HOUSTONTX.GOV
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SLASH BTF, AND IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO PRE-REGISTER, DON'T WORRY.YOU CAN REGISTER AT THE EVENT, AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU ON AUGUST THE THIRD, ALONG WITH MAYOR JOHN WHITMEYER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
SO BEFORE WE CONCLUDE THIS, UH, PRESS CONFERENCE, I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK FOR MANY YEARS, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SHELL, USA TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
WE DO THIS WITH THE MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL FEST, AND WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THIS.
UM, WE HAVE WORKED WITH SHELL AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO RECEIVE THOUSANDS OF BACKPACKS AND SUPPLIES THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY ON AUGUST 3RD.
UM, AND WE HAVE OUR SHELL VOLUNTEERS HERE TODAY WHO ARE HELPING BUILD THOSE 25,000 BACKPACKS AND FILL THOSE WITH SUPPLIES TO FURTHER ASSIST THE COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR, DUE TO HURRICANE BARREL, HOUSTON FOOD BANK WILL ALSO BE AT THE EVENT TO DISTRIBUTE HEALTHY PRODUCE TO THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.
WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.
WE ALSO HOPE THE FOOD ASSISTANCE DISTRIBUTION WILL ASSIST FAMILIES WHO NEED TO REPLENISH THEIR REFRIGERATORS AND PANTRIES AFTER THE HURRICANE.
HOUSTON FOOD BANK IS VERY PROUD TO PARTNER WITH SHELL AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR THE MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL FEST, WHICH HELPS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES GET READY FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT TIME OF THE YEAR.
WE'RE SO PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HOST THIS EVENT TODAY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE ON AUGUST THE THIRD.