Shoppers, Malls Raise Money for Schools

Shopaholics at Fashion Square Sherman Oaks and the Promenade at Woodland Hills can show their philanthropic side through May 31 by participating in the Shopping 4 Students or the Partners in Education programs.

Through the two programs, area schools can receive up to $2,000 for computers, air conditioners or other supplies if their boosters are the most conspicuous and conscientious consumers.

The concept is simple: A resident shops at the neighborhood mall and hangs on to all receipts from stores, vendors or restaurants. Every dollar spent at the mall is worth 5 points for the school of the shopper’s choice. At the end of the shopping day, the shopper goes to the centrally located information booth or a designated store, where receipts are tallied and stamped.

The school with the most points on May 31 gets the big prize, but all schools get something. The contests are a way for malls to give something back to patrons, said Nora Levy, the program coordinator. “People see the mall as this big entity--they spend a lot of time there, they spend a lot of money there--and they want the mall to be involved in the community,” she said.

Twenty elementary schools are participating in the Sherman Oaks program, which will give every school an award ranging from $200 to $2,000. Participating schools are Balboa, Carpenter, Chandler, Colfax, Dixie Canyon, Emelita, Encino, Erwin, Fair, Kester, Lanai, Lowman, Monlux, Nestle, Riverside, Roscomare, Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, Sherman Oaks, Strathern and Sylvan Park. The awards ceremony will be held on June 11.

Six elementary schools are included in the Woodland Hills program, which will award between $300 and $1,300 to each campus. Participating schools are: Woodlake, St. Bernardine of Siena, Welby, Calvert, Lockhurst and Lupin Hill. The awards ceremony will be held on June 10.