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| CHANGE
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., April 14, 2016 – AAA Oklahoma is joining CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, to volunteer on behalf of The Crayon Initiative, a California-based nonprofit that collects and remanufactures unwanted crayons and donates them to children in local hospitals and art therapy programs. To commemorate The Crayon Initiative’s inaugural arrival in Oklahoma City, employees from CSAA Insurance Group and AAA Oklahoma will volunteer in a companywide crayon recycling event.
This week, 150,000 crayons – 1,500 pounds – will be sorted by color to prepare them for recycling. The event will be held on April 14, from 10 AM to Noon, at 3100 Quail Springs Parkway in Oklahoma City.
“AAA Oklahoma is pleased to welcome The Crayon Initiative to Oklahoma City and support the organization’s altruistic mission,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “We recognize that our members and employees value community involvement and we are grateful for the opportunity to provide volunteer support.”
The Crayon Initiative, established in 2014, collects discarded crayons, remanufactures them and provides new packs to hospital pediatric wards. Crayons offer hospitalized children a creative outlet for self-expression, which may provide needed psychological support, alleviate feelings of anxiety, and contribute to maintaining a sense of childhood normalcy.
“The work we do has a significant impact on local communities, and we are excited to visit Oklahoma for the first time,” said Bryan Ware, founder of The Crayon Initiative. “Our mobile crayon recycling trailer advances our mission of ensuring that children have the tools they need to enjoy the healthful benefits of art and creativity, while reducing waste in landfills.”
Unwanted crayons collected by The Crayon Initiative also reduce negative impacts on the environment. Crayons are not biodegradable and create a waxy sludge that may not break down for centuries. To date, The Crayon Initiative has diverted nearly 750,000 crayons – thousands of pounds – destined for landfills. Donated new and used crayons come from restaurants, schools, childcare centers and caring citizens.
About The Crayon Initiative
The Crayon Initiative is a Northern California-based nonprofit devoted to promoting the arts for children by providing them access to the resources they need. The organization believes that in order to grow and learn, children need to have the freedom to be creative and express themselves through art. The Crayon Initiative organizes crayon collections that accept unwanted crayons, remanufactures them, and provides them to hospitals that are caring for children. For more information, visit www.thecrayoninitiative.org.
About AAA Oklahoma
AAA is North America’s largest motoring, leisure travel and safety advocacy organization with more than 56 million members. A not-for-profit, fully tax-paying organization, AAA Oklahoma provides its 390,000 Oklahoma members with emergency roadside assistance and auto travel services. Plus, the auto club offers members and the general public a wide range of personal insurance, worldwide travel and financial services at branch offices across Oklahoma and online at AAA.com.
About CSAA Insurance Group
CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, offers automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA members through partnerships with AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1914, CSAA Insurance Group is rated A+ by A.M. Best and is one of the top 20 personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company was also named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America by Points of Light in 2014.