The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Los Angeles

OSULA Donates Books to Local School

On May 21, 2004, Ohio State University Alumni Club of Los Angeles (OSULA) board members Cindy Paulos and Jayne Melia, along with club member Ed Melia, presented the State Street Elementary School in Southgate (Los Angeles Unified School District) with 242 books for their class rooms and school library. The school was also given several dozen Ohio State pompoms and bookmarks, as well as a National Championship pennant from the 2002 football season.

The OSULA mission, as part of the overall mission of Alumni Clubs of the Ohio State Alumni Association, includes community service. As part of the clubs mission fulfillment, a book drive was conducted during the 2003 football season and club members donated books at the five viewing sites in Los Angeles County during each football weekend. The donated books were to be new or gently used books suitable for children in grades K-6.

The Book Drive was quite a success and OSULA was pleased to donate these books to a school in an underserved area of Los Angeles. The presentation was made to Principal Cora Watkins, along with approximately 50 2^nd and 5^th graders. The students listened attentively as Ms. Paulos, an administrator with LAUSD, explained how the books were collected, the “how and why of the Buckeye,” with the use of a Buckeye necklace, and then read Dr. Seuss’ “The Places You’ll Go” to her audience.

After a question and answer session, the students came forward to accept the donated books, each of which bore an inside label “Donated by the OSULA Club.”

Approximately two weeks later, the club received 16 thank you letters from the 2^nd grade class. Following are some of the students’ comments:

“Thank you for the wonderful books... I liked the flag... OHIO rules!” (Katherine)

“Do you like to play football?” (Victor)

“Now I know what a Buckeye is. Where did you get all those books...” (Lishtyeri)

“I really appreciate you giving us the pompoms, flags, bookmarks.” (Carmen)

“Thank you for reading the book. Go Buckeyes!!!” (Daizy)

“Thank you for giving books. When I grow up I want to go to Ohio college.” (Steve)

“Thank you for the books, pompoms and bookmarkers. I like the buckeye” (Christian)

Based on the success of the 2003 book drive, OSULA is again sponsoring a Book Drive for the 2004 football season. All OSULA members and Buckeye supporters are encouraged to bring a book to one of the clubs’ viewing sites on football Saturdays culminating at the club’s “Beat Michigan” party in November. Books collected will again be donated to a school in an underserved area in Los Angeles.

OSULA Board Members Cindy Paulos (right), Jayne Melia, and club member Ed Melia present Principal Cora Watkins with 242 donated books along with Ohio State pom poms, bookmarks and pennant. Books were collected during the club’s 2003 Book Drive and donated to State Street Elementary School in Southgate.