U.S. Bank Provides Free Backpacks and School Supplies to More Than 1,000 Children across Country

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--To prepare students for the 2012-2013 school year, U.S. Bank partnered with community organizations across the country to provide backpacks and school supplies to more than 1,000 children in the month of August.

“U.S. Bank is committed to supporting the communities in which we do business”

U.S. Bank employee volunteers distributed the supplies, most of which were provided by Portland-based nonprofit Schoolhouse Supplies, to children at in nine cities: Boise, Cincinnati, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Portland, Seattle and the Twin Cities. Most of the locations selected were affordable housing properties that have been financed by U.S. Bank.

“U.S. Bank is committed to supporting the communities in which we do business,” said Lisa Glover, executive vice president and director of community affairs at U.S. Bank. “With the help of Schoolhouse Supplies, we were able to revisit many affordable housing complexes that we helped bring to these communities and let them know that our support extends beyond our initial investment.”

Several of the children served by the initiative reside at properties operated by Mercy Housing.

“Thanks to U.S. Bank, more than 500 of our resident children started this school year with the supplies they need to succeed,” said Sister Lillian, CEO of Mercy Housing. “U.S. Bank's continued support of Mercy Housing means a great deal to me personally and even more to those whose lives are enriched by the impact of affordable housing and supportive services.”

U.S. Bank and Portland, Ore.-based Schoolhouse Supplies have been partners since 2001. These events marked the first time that Schoolhouse Supplies expanded its reach outside of the Pacific Northwest.

“Schoolhouse Supplies is honored to partner with the U.S. Bank team to ensure that even more students have the tools they need to encourage the learning process,” notes Jen Barth, executive director of Schoolhouse Supplies. “U.S. Bank’s innovation and dedication to supporting families in these communities will make an incredible impact throughout the entire school year, and beyond, and is true inspiration to us all.”

U.S. Bank is a proud community partner across the nation, providing $46 million in charitable contributions in 2011. The bank’s employees volunteered more than 141,000 hours in the community last year.

About Schoolhouse Supplies
Schoolhouse Supplies is a nonprofit organization that gives free school supplies to teachers and students in need in and around Portland, Oregon. Teachers spend an average of $1,700 of their own money each year to provide basic school supplies for their classrooms. Since opening in January 2000, Schoolhouse Supplies has offset these costs by distributing more than $16.7 million in supplies to classrooms, teachers and students in need. The mission is based on the belief that every child deserves school supplies and has the right to a quality public education. For more information, call 503-249-9933 or visit www.schoolhousesupplies.org.

About Mercy Housing
Mercy Housing is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit affordable housing organizations that develops and manages affordable, program-enriched housing and provides supportive services for individuals and families. Headquartered in Denver, Mercy Housing has a presence in 43 states, serves more than 141,000 people each day and has developed over 42,000 units. For more information, please visit www.mercyhousing.org.

About U.S. Bank
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $353 billion in assets as of June 30, 2012, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 3,080 banking offices in 25 states and 5,085 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. U.S. Bancorp and its employees are dedicated to improving the communities they serve, for which the company earned the 2011 Spirit of America Award, the highest honor bestowed on a company by United Way. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.

Note to editors: photos from each backpack distribution event available upon request