News Release - Paris-Kirwan Launches Books and Bears Drive for Holiday Shopping Season

City of Rochester

News Release

(Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018) – In advance of the holiday shopping season, Paris-Kirwan Associates Inc., has launched a collection campaign seeking donations of new children’s books and stuffed animals for Mayor Lovely A. Warren’s Books and Bears program and encouraged other area businesses to do the same.

“The Books and Bears program is a wonderful example of how a small gesture can lead to great things – which is the essence of community policing,” said Mayor Warren. “I want to thank Paris-Kirwan Associates for supporting this wonderful program by launching a collection drive during the holiday shopping season. This campaign will make a huge impact in the lives of our most vulnerable children.”

Skip Pleininger, Vice-President of Paris-Kirwan Associates, said: “When we heard about this program developed by Mayor Warren and the City of Rochester, we were touched by the heartfelt stories. The simple act of a police officer reading a book or handing out a bear to a child in a time of need made this an easy decision for us to be a part of this program. We hope that others will do the same.”

Books and Bears collects donations of new children’s books and stuffed animals, which Rochester Police Department patrol officers carry in their cars to help them engage with young children whom they might encounter at a crime scene or some other traumatic event.


Paris-Kirwan is an insurance agency located on University Avenue. This is Paris-Kirwan’s second Books and Bears campaign in two years. This year’s campaign has been timed to coincide with the holiday season because donors often buy books and bears while shopping for other gifts.

The company’s campaign comes at a time when the City’s supply of books and stuffed animals is nearly depleted.

Books and bears can be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Paris-Kirwan Associates’ office, 1040 University Ave.

Companies and other organizations interested in setting up a Books and Bears collection site can contact the Mayor’s Office at 428-7045.

To learn more about Books and Bears, visit www.cityofrochester.gov/booksandbears/.

To view images of last year’s Paris-Kirwan donation, visit https://cityofrochester.smugmug.com/City-Departments-1/Mayors-Office-of-Constituant-S/Books-Bears/Books-and-Bears-donation-ceremony-11132017/i-fjHqHmd

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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135; or Leigh O’Connell of Paris-Kirwan Associates at 461-6428.