CEOs give Oakland elementary students new uniforms

EAST OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Some local kids got a big gift at school Friday from local CEOs who asked themselves if we were president of the United States what would we do?

Young students at Futures Elementary School were full of anticipation as they prepared to possibly get some new clothes.

"Word had leaked out they were getting uniforms. So it was like 'are we getting uniforms? Are we getting a jacket?' So they are really, really excited," Futures Restorative Justice Admin. Colleen Tiffenson said.

Futures is located on Oakland's International Boulevard, an area where the basic needs such as clothes for school can be a stretch for some families.

"We are in a neighborhood where income level is under $24,000 a year so that's less than $2,000 a month to run a household and 50 percent of the families are single parent families, so there's a lot of need," Heavy Equipment Parts Inc. President Paige Bearce-Beery said.

Bearce-Beery is one of 14 local CEOs who wanted to do something to help local kids. Administrators at Futures knew exactly what would make a difference after they had kids who were staying home from school because they didn't have proper clothing.

"There were students being teased for what they were wearing to school," Tiffenson said.

The CEOs came together and bought uniforms for the 300 students and presented them during a school assembly.

As the kids cheered, some moms sighed with relief over one less thing to worry about.

And back in the classrooms, the rumor became reality when each child received two new shirts with their school logo and a warm fleece lined jacket.

"They're beautiful faces were smiling, I mean they are our future leaders," Bearce-Beer said.