December 27, 2007-- Asher & Company, Ltd. marked the sixth anniversary of our annual holiday gift drive for the less fortunate students of our adopted school, Henry A. Brown Elementary School.

This year, our staff purchased gifts for approximately 90 students aged Pre-Kindergarten through Fourth Grade who most likely would not be receiving other presents this holiday season. Cut-outs of "Christmas Bells" representing each child provided the age, gender, and name of each child as a guide to gift buying. Bill Burns, a director in the firm's tax department, has helped coordinate the toy drive each year. Bill states, "Most of our work with the school is hands-on and we can see the impact on the students. Our toy drive is a way to put some holiday magic into the lives of many great children."

The generosity of Asher's staff continues to grow every year. Although a suggested spending range is $25 - 35, many staff members go above and beyond this range, and many pick more than one child for which to buy.

This year's gift delivery took place on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 with the delivery truck being loaded from our new offices at Ten Penn Center and delivered to H.A. Brown Elementary at 1900 East Sergeant Street.

With the assistance of Greater Philadelphia Cares, Asher adopted H.A. Brown Elementary School in 2002. We sponsor various activities throughout the year to benefit their students. This holiday drive has become an Asher tradition and builds on our continued involvement with H.A. Brown Elementary. In doing so, we hope this program has a continued positive effect on the lives of the children it benefits.

		Photo of gifts before being transported to H.A. Brown Elementary School .
		Deanna Costas assists with loading up the delivery truck.
		Bill Burns, tax department director, in front of H.A. Brown Elementary School .
		Asher’s Doug Hall (left), Randee Mellon (center), and Bill Burns (second from right) with H.A. Brown’s Guidance Counselor Robert Cohen (second from left) and Principal Dawn Moore (right).