McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant DTC and McCormick's Fish House & Bar Announces 5 th Annual Backpack Drive To Benefit Whittier K-8 School

Receive a $20 gift certificate for every NEW backpack donated!

July 23, 2008, Denver, CO., ...The 5 th Annual Backpack Drive to aid students in the Denver Public Schools is under way. McCormick's Fish House and Bar in lower downtown and McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant in the Denver Tech Center are asking for help in giving students a fresh, new start to the school year. General Managers Julie Muise and Mikel Sasik are excited to announce that the backpacks collected will be donated to Whittier K-8 School for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year. In years past over 500 backpacks were collected and the goal is to exceed those numbers this year.

Between July 12 th and August 16th anyone who drops off a BRAND NEW, FULL SIZE backpack and some supplies at either restaurant will receive a $20 gift certificate redeemable at any McCormick & Schmick's restaurant nationwide, including McCormick's Fish House and Bar in lower downtown and McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant in the Denver Tech Center. (One gift certificate per new backpack.)

Whittier K-8 School (2480 Downing St.) is located in northeast Denver with a current population of 450 students. Whittier students come from diverse backgrounds and through the support of its principal Mr. Jai Palmer, its excellent staff, parents and community members it has consistently and successfully made strong academic growth and improvements. Whittier K-8 is dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment and during the upcoming school year will be the new neighborhood school to three Denver area family homeless shelters.

McCormick's hopes to support the entire Whittier student body by outfitting them with new backpacks. These backpacks will help to prepare them for an exciting and busy year full of learning. For the last 5 years McCormick's has chosen one DPS school to be the recipient of enough backpacks and supplies to outfit the entire school. Often times there are backpacks left over for new students coming in through-out the year. Chefs and staff from McCormick's deliver the supplies to the school and spend the morning visiting the kids in the classrooms and presenting the students with their new supplies.

"Providing students with the necessary items needed to be prepared for school is a vital part of learning and school success. It is so important for students to feel supported by the Denver community and to know that it is vested in their success. McCormick's is a great example of dedication and support of education and Denver Public Schools"- Educational Outreach Program, Homeless Services: Denver Public Schools.

For more information on the Backpack Drive, please see in-store displays or call 720.200.9339