In January, 2007 and in observance of Morris Black’s 100th Year, Morris Black created an Adopt-A-School program with James Buchanan Elementary School as our partner. This initiative was in accordance with our desire to give back to our community.

On Dec. 14th, Bob Black and the Morris Black Buchanan Committee (Jack Krimmel, Diane Batchelor and Cindy Miller) met with members of the Buchanan faculty to discuss ideas.  Both sides left  the discussion excited about the possibilities.

This 300 student elementary school is located on Catasauqua Road, just over the bridge at Route 378.  “We’re not an impoverished inner city school, and we’re not a rich, high-achieving suburban school,” one of the teachers noted, “so we don’t have the special programs available to those schools.  We tend to be ignored, so we’re especially happy that Morris Black is interested in our school.”

After an exploratory meeting with Bob Black and the Principal, Mary Catherine Tachovsky, in 2006, the Morris Black and Buchanan staffs have worked together to decide how best to best structure the program. Much has been accomplished to date:

February 8, 2007: Morris Black members made a visual presentation on Morris Black to both the staff and each grade at the school.  Large photos and sample products were included, and the talk emphasized the skills needed (math, reading, following directions, co-operation) to be successful in the workplace.

February 21st, 2007: William Hoy, Gifted Teacher at Buchanan brought four students to visit Morris Black. The students interviewed designers, saw a demonstration of CAD design, toured the showroom and made a short video of their experience.

March 2nd, 2007: Read Across America Day. Eight Morris Black staff members went to the school and had enormous fun reading Dr. Suess books to the students.

April 13th, 2007: Morris Black staffers made homemade cookies and contributed money and personal items to Buchanan’s “Cookies and Calling Cards for Heroes” program. The items were boxed and mailed to US troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Morris Black and teacher Rosemary Hensel delivered some of the boxes to the PA National Guard in Allentown.

May 11th, 2007: Morris Black contributed a basket with tee shirts, mugs, pins, and other gift items for a raffle at the PTA’s Spring Carnival.

June 4th, 2007: Jon Black from Morris Black awarded the “Persistence in Learning” Award to 5th Grader Joseph Holly.
Plans are now underway for Morris Black to participate in all three weeks of Buchanan’s summer school.

The staff at Morris Black have been excited about making a difference in the lives of  these children. As we expand their horizons by helping them understand that adults outside of their school and family care about them and their growth, may we also grow to understand that we can truly make a difference in the lives of these children.  Everybody wins.