Chicago's Lenox Suites Hotel Earns A+ for Public-Private Partnership with City Public School.

Business Editors and Education Writers

Chicago's Lenox Suites Hotel, located at Rush and Ontario, was recently honored by the American Hotel & Lodging with the 2002 "Hotel of Promise" Award for its public-private partnership with the Edward Coles Elementary School on Chicago's south side.

Each year AH&LA celebrates the best of the American lodging industry by recognizing outstanding achievements that epitomize the service and spirit of the industry. The award was presented at the annual Stars of the Industry ceremony in Philadelphia.

The Lenox Suites Hotel was recognized for its on-going commitment to influence the lives of inner city school children at Coles Elementary School. One hundred percent of Coles students are minorities and 88 percent are from families receiving public aid. By virtue of the partnership, the hotel has taken the lead in the hospitality industry, as well as among Chicago's business sector, in demonstrating the positive return on a creative, relatively low-cost investment.

The Lenox Suites partnership with Coles Elementary is now in its third year. Launched in 1999, the initiative is built on a series of small, yet important gestures, each one translating to tremendous benefits for both the school and the hotel.

Over $2,500 in academic materials have been donated to the Coles school. Additional contributions are raised through a series of fund raising efforts, including bake sales, candy drives and other efforts. Cans are collected in the hotel's cafeteria with deposit proceeds added to the fund. The hotel also donates gently used computers, telephones and other equipment.

Throughout the school year, staff regularly volunteer in the classrooms, reading with the children, helping with art projects and organizing school holiday parties. Enough staff participate at each visit to ensure that each child receives the benefit of individual attention from the "Lenox Suites Angels" as they are referred to at the school. The Coles Elementary program continues to rank as one of the hotel's top five benefits in an employee attitude survey.

In winter a "Mitten Tree" is set up in the lobby where hats, scarves and mittens are collected for more than 200 needy children. Additional community support is also enlisted. Last year, the Lenox coordinated a thrilling private plane flight over the city for a group of middle school students, sponsored by a local volunteer aviation organization.

Lenox Suites is one of only eight Chicago hotels, and one of 18 properties in the state, participating in the "Hotel of Promise" program. The initiative is spearheaded by the American Hotel & Lodging Association in response to "America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth" a national organization founded by General Colin Powell which serves as the catalyst between the public and private sectors to improve the lives of the nation's youth.

For information on the Lenox Suites Hotel call toll free 1-800-44-LENOX, or visit the website at www.lenoxsuites.com.

The Lenox Suites Hotel is located at 616 N. Rush Street, in the heart of downtown Chicago, one block west of Michigan Avenue's famous "Magnificent Mile" on the corner of Rush and Ontario Streets. Chicago's celebrated shopping, museums and restaurants are just steps from the hotel. Lenox Suites features 324 spacious guest Studios and Suites, each equipped with a full kitchen. Signature amenities include complimentary in-Suite continental breakfast, weekday newspaper delivery and use of the Lenox Suites fitness center. Lenox Suites Hotel has been a fixture in downtown Chicago since 1985 and has earned a reputation as one of the leading hotels for long and short-term corporate stays, as well as for leisure visitors and families.

Edward Coles Elementary School is located at 8441 S. Yates Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60617. Telephone [phone].