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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Top Flight Financial donated 51 coats to the Boardman elementary schools. They brought the coats to Stadium Drive Elementary on Jan. 4, where they will distributed among students in all four elementary schools. Pictured, from left, are Jimmy Ament, Mary Jo Kollat, Mary Ann Pollack, Ryan Cuffle and Ciera Parry of Top Flight Financial and Michael Zoccali and Jennifer Carey of Stadium Drive Elementary.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Branch manager Ryan Cuffle and other representatives from Top Flight Financial met with principal Michael Zoccali and school counselor Jen Carey of Stadium Drive Elementary to donate coats for children. The coats will go to students in need of winter coats to help the families throughout the elementary schools.
By ZACK SHIVELY
Top Flite Financial donated coats to Boardman elementary school students on Jan. 4 at Stadium Drive Elementary School.
The company collected 51 coats between the end of November and the end of December. The coats will be distributed to elementary students in all four elementary schools.
Michael Zoccali, Stadium Drive Elementary’s principal, and Jennifer Carey, a school counselor at Stadium Drive Elementary and Market Street Elementary, met branch manager Ryan Cuffle and other representatives from the mortgage company.
Cuffle and Zoccali have teamed up for this event for three years now, one while Zoccali was an assistant principal at Austintown schools and the last two years with Boardman schools.
Zoccali explained that the students have to get in and out of the school in the cold weather, but also have to endure the cold during recess outside. He said that the effect goes beyond school, because the students need the coats on the weekends and after school.
Both he and Carey said they are thankful for the coats to help the students. They both continued to say that the deed helps the families who are struggling by supplying the students with coats, so they have one less expense to worry about. Carey said any family in need of a coat can contact her throughout the school year.
“And, as an educator, I hope that when a student gets a coat, they learn the importance of giving,“ said Zoccali.
Top Flight Financial acquired the coats from business partners throughout the community. They set up a raffle where each donated coat led to a chance to win tickets to see the Cavaliers play.