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Every elementary student in Tulsa Public Schools will soon have something new to wear that is uniquely theirs: an original spirit shirt created especially for Tulsa Public Schools by Assistance League Tulsa.

Through its signature Operation School Bell program, Assistance League Tulsa will provide approximately 16,000 TPS elementary students with the new spirit shirt as part of their school uniform.

The shirts were designed specifically for Tulsa Public Schools and are being provided to every elementary student, rather than only students receiving other Operation School Bell services. The decision was intentional: Assistance League Tulsa wanted every child to have the same opportunity to show their school spirit without singling out students who may need additional resources.

“This has been a tremendous effort, and we are so excited to see these shirts make their way into the hands of Tulsa students,” said Pat Banzhof, Assistance League Tulsa. “We wanted every child to feel included and proud to wear their shirt, regardless of their family's circumstances. When everyone receives the same shirt, it becomes about school spirit, belonging and being part of the Tulsa Public Schools community.”

Operation School Bell is Assistance League Tulsa's flagship philanthropic providing new clothing, shoes, school supplies and other resources to children in need. The program is designed to help students arrive at school ready to learn while supporting their confidence and dignity.

The new spirit shirts build on that mission in a particularly visible way. Rather than identifying which students need assistance, the program ensures that all elementary students have a new uniform-appropriate shirt to wear to school.

“We are incredibly grateful to Assistance League Tulsa for the thoughtfulness behind this gift. By providing a spirit shirt to every elementary student, they are not only supporting students with a tangible resource but creating a shared experience where every child can feel included and proud to represent their school. That sense of belonging matters, and we are thankful for the care that went into making this possible for all of our elementary students,” said Caroline Crouch, Executive Director of Communications for Tulsa Public Schools.

The scale of the project is significant. Approximately 16,000 elementary students across Tulsa Public Schools will receive a shirt, representing a major community effort by Assistance League Tulsa and its volunteers and partners.

The Foundation for Tulsa Schools is proud to support this effort and the community partnerships that make opportunities like this possible.

“Partnerships like this demonstrate what can happen when community organizations come together with a shared commitment to Tulsa students,” said Moises Echeverria, President & CEO of the Foundation for Tulsa Schools. “Assistance League Tulsa has taken something as simple as a school spirit shirt and turned it into an opportunity to build belonging, school pride, and dignity for thousands of children.”

For Assistance League Tulsa, the project represents more than providing another piece of clothing. It reflects a commitment to ensuring that students have the resources they need to participate fully in school, and that receiving support never has to mean standing apart from their peers.