Dadeland Mall, Miami International Mall, The Falls and The Shops at Sunset Place are part of 20 Simon Malls across the state of Florida hosting “Look Smart – Book Smart,” a back-to-school clothing drive for disadvantaged children in support of Dignity U Wear, a statewide not-for-profit with partnering organizations located throughout Florida. Simon Property Group’s “Look Smart – Book Smart” will collect donations of new children’s clothing and school supplies during tax-free weekend on Sat., Aug. 14 and Sun., Aug 15 from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Simon’s South Florida malls, with support from CBS4 and Neighbors 4 Neighbors, will help collect new clothing for one of Dignity U Wear’s South Florida partners, Neat Stuff, which is a Miami-based nonprofit that distributes new clothes to underprivileged children. Neat Stuff is seeking donations such as school uniform polo tops, school uniform pants/shorts, boys and girls underwear, socks and backpacks to help as many children as possible wear new school uniforms when they start school.
Shoppers will also enjoy the following back-to-school activities during tax-free weekend:
- Dadeland Mall will host a Kidgits Back-to-School event on Fri., Aug. 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Kids are welcome to participate in a fun night of singing, dancing and fun activities as well as a special screening of “Leapfrog: Let’s Go to School.”
- Miami International Mall will host a Back-to-School Safety Expo and Kidgits event on Saturday, August 14 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- The Shops at Sunset Place will present its “Super Sale” on Fri., Aug 13 – Sun., Aug 15 with great discounts at participating retailers. On Sat., Aug. 14, shoppers can also enjoy a live performance by Sammy Arriaga Jr. from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a South Miami Drug Free Coalition Rx medicine collection from 11 a.m to 5 p.m., which will help keep prescription medicine from being misused or stolen.
“Simon Property Group is proud to support Dignity U Wear and provide brand new clothing to children for the upcoming school year,” said Lynnette Lauria, regional vice president of marketing, Florida, Simon Property Group. “We are thrilled that our malls will serve as a venue in support of this important effort to create real change in the lives of children in need.”
Simon Property Group’s “Look Smart – Book Smart” will take place at participating Simon malls: Boynton Beach Mall (Boynton Beach), Coconut Point Mall (Estero), Coral Square (Coral Springs), Dadeland Mall (Miami), DeSoto Square Mall (Bradenton), Edison Mall (Fort Myers), The Falls (Miami), Florida Mall (Orlando), Gulfview Square Mall (Port Richey), Indian River Mall (Vero Beach), Lake Square Mall (Leesburg), Melbourne Square Mall (Melbourne), Miami International Mall (Miami), Paddock Mall (Ocala), Port Charlotte Town Center (Port Charlotte), Seminole Town Center (Sanford), Shops at Sunset Place (Miami), Town Center at Boca Raton (Boca Raton), Treasure Coast Square (Jensen Beach) and Tyrone Square Mall (St. Petersburg).
“The mission of Dignity U Wear is to provide brand new clothes for a brand new life. During the summer months, Dignity U Wear is focused on providing brand new school clothing to children so they have a fresh start to a brighter future,” said Bob Bryan, executive director of Dignity U Wear. “We appreciate Simon Malls as collaborators, giving their customers the satisfaction of helping others by providing new clothes for children that do not have access at the start of a school year.”
For more information about Simon Property Group’s “Look Smart – Book Smart” back-to-school clothing drive, please visit www.simon.com. For more information on Dignity U Wear, please visit www.dignityuwear.org.