PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Cynthia Stewart

Community Affairs Director

500 West Big Beaver

Troy MI 48084

ph 248.524.1147

fax 248.524.3499

FOR RELEASE: January 6, 2011

Troy Employees Help Local Charities Through Casual for a Cause Days

(TROY, MI) – Troy Employees are dressed more casually on Fridays to raise money for local charities. City Administration initially agreed to let employees wear jeans on Fridays for a $1 donation in July 2007.

“Each year the employees submitted nominations of local charities to become the recipients of the casual for a cause donations and a committee would choose the winners,” Community Affairs Director Cindy Stewart said. “Organizations send a representative to a future City Council Meeting to receive the check.”

Since July 2007 City of Troy employees have raised more than $21,200 for 21 separate charities. This money has been donated to organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of Troy, Troy Community Coalition, Troy Youth Assistance, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Honor Flight of Michigan, Forgotten Harvest, Autism Speaks, Care House, US Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots, On My Own of MI, American Cancer Society, Troy Historical Society and the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

For 12 days in January and February 2010, the employees dressed casual and raised $3,000 for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief for Haiti.

“It is truly wonderful for the City Employees to be able to help out our local charitable organizations as well as being able to wear jeans on Fridays.” Stewart added. “Hopefully we can continue this for a very long time.”

“It is a win-win for everyone,” Julie Hamilton, Purchasing Department Associate Buyer said. “Many employees donate more than a dollar on Casual for a Cause Fridays. “They have been very generous.”

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