Organizers for the 3rd annual OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center Back-to-School Celebration on Saturday, August 3, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. are expecting a crowd of at least 700 for this year’s event at Alton Square Mall.
Why? Because that’s how many attended last year’s Back to School event which was also held at Alton Square Mall.
This year’s Back-to-School Celebration, sponsored exclusively by Dwight and Cheryl Werts, and Werts Welding & Tank Service, Inc., will distribute school supplies including (but not limited to) paper, pens, pencils, and crayons to the first 500 kids ages 4 to 12 – last year’s event provided school supplies for 500 students.
Admission is FREE and the event is open to the public. A hot dog lunch complete with chips, cookies, and bottled water will be available while supplies last.
“Moving the event to Alton Square Mall last year provided numerous opportunities for event growth, which it did. And because of that growth and success, it was an easy decision to hold the event in the same location this year,” says Jerry Rumph, president, OSF Saint Anthony’s. “We’ll continue to have a wide variety of vendors this year, along with prize and gift basket raffles, and fun games and interactive activities provided by OSF Mission Partners (employees) to educate attendees on a variety of health care topics and services.”
So far, a cumulative group totaling more than 22 that encompasses local dignitaries, businesses, service agencies and organizations have pledged their involvement.
Local dignitaries that are scheduled to attend include (schedules and availability may change):
- City of Alton Mayor David Goins
- Illinois State Representative Amy Elik (R), 111th District (Alton)
- Illinois State Senator Erica Harriss (R), 56th District (Edwardsville)
The following entities are scheduled to be on-site (interactive activities, informational, etc.; subject to change):
- Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation will be conducting back-to-school physicals
- Madison County Sherriff Department
- Alton Fire Department
- Alton Police Department
- UPS (delivery truck on display)
- Illinois Central School Bus (a school bus will be on display)
- OSF OnCall
- OSF Medical Group
- Lewis & Clark Community College Dental Hygiene program
- Hayner Library
- OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center (various departments)
- OSF Innovation – STEAM (interactive display featuring Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math)
- Equip for Equality
- Alton School District
- Survival Flight
- 1st MidAmerica Credit Union
- Centerstone
The following businesses, agencies, and organizations have generously donated giveaways, materials and additional resources to make the event a success (subject to change):
- Santino’s Restaurant (gift card donation)
And just like the event’s first two years, the overall objective of OSF Saint Anthony’s Back-to-School Celebration is to bring community resources together to support Riverbend region students and families. “All of the benefactors and partners that have joined us in this event have a vested interest in the success of local students and schools,” says Rumph. “We want this event to be an annual occurrence that everyone looks forward to participating and attending.”
Questions and requests for additional information can be addressed via email at randy.t.schorfheide@osfhealthcare.org.