AAA & CSAA Show True Colors with The Crayon Initiative

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 25, 2018) – It's spring, and that means many kids are heading to the playground, skate park or soccer field. But some kids, such as eight-year-old Evan, simply can't. They're hooked up to machines that save their lives – but may dampen their spirits. Still, despite living as a two-time kidney transplant recipient, and facing multiple congenital challenges, Evan – like many children living with chronic diseases – finds comfort in coloring.

Tomorrow, hundreds of employees from CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, and AAA Colorado are volunteering for The Crayon Initiative, a California-based nonprofit, by sorting unwanted crayons so they can be melted down, made into new crayons, and donated to hospitalized children such as Evan. 

The crayon-sorting and recycling event takes place on Thursday, April 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at CSAA Insurance Group's office at 5775 Mark Dabling Blvd., Bldg. III, in Colorado Springs. 

"The Crayon Initiative's mission aligns with what we're all about, and we're excited to partner with them again," said Roger Hancock, volunteer manager for CSAA Insurance Group. "We recognize the importance of giving back to our communities and believe we have a responsibility to support the communities where AAA members live and work."

Established in 2014, The Crayon Initiative collects discarded crayons from restaurants and other sources, remanufactures them and provides new packs to hospital pediatric wards. Crayons offer hospitalized children a creative outlet for self-expression, which can help them cope with their illnesses, alleviate feelings of anxiety and contribute to a sense of normalcy. To date, The Crayon Initiative has donated nearly 90,000 packs of crayons to 123 hospitals in 33 states.

According to Bryan Ware, founder of The Crayon Initiative, creating art with specially designed crayons from The Crayon Initiative helps children like Evan take their minds off of medical challenges – and simply enjoy being a kid.

"It's kind of my favorite thing to do," Evan said. "I like drawing stuff and being creative. It helps me think about fun things."

In addition to being repurposed for hospitalized children, unwanted crayons collected by The Crayon Initiative also reduce negative environmental impacts. Crayons are not biodegradable and create a waxy sludge that may not break down for centuries. To date, The Crayon Initiative has diverted more than 150,000 pounds of crayons destined for landfills. 

"The work we do has a significant impact on local communities," said Ware. "Our crayon recycling efforts help ensure that children have the tools they need to enjoy the health benefits of art and creativity."

About The Crayon Initiative

The Crayon Initiative is a Northern California based-nonprofit devoted to promoting the arts for children by providing them access to the resources they need. We believe that in order to grow and learn, children need to have the freedom to be creative and express themselves through art. The Crayon Initiative organizes crayon collections that accept unwanted crayons, remanufacture them, and provide them to hospitals that are caring for our kids. For more information, visit www.thecrayoninitiative.org.

About CSAA Insurance Group

CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, offers automobile, homeowners, and other personal lines of insurance to AAA members through AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1914, the company has been rated "A" or better by A.M. Best for more than 90 years, and is one of the top personal lines and property casualty insurance groups in the United States, per the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company has repeatedly been named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America by Points of Light.

About AAA Colorado

More than 660,000 members strong, AAA Colorado is the state's most prominent advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 58 million members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services - as well as member-exclusive savings. For more information, visit aaa.com.