AROUND TOWN: 400 Koats 4 Kids for the kids at Aragon Elementary

Its genesis was the community service project required of every Leadership Pikes Peak class (leadershippikespeak.org).

For the Class of 2007, it was Koats 4 Kids, a combo evening that, over the five years of its existence, has brought in more than 1,000 new coats for elementary school students in schools where more than 51 percent of students are on free or reduced-cost meals. And it raises money, at last count an estimated $35,000, for the Colorado Springs Conservatory (www.coloradospringsconservatory.org), which offers music programs for students of every income level.

On Oct. 14, Koats 4 Kids drew 259 people to The Warehouse Restaurant and Gallery.

Conservatory musicians entertained as guests arrived carrying bags and bags of new coats for this year’s chosen school, Aragon Elementary. More than 75 coats were from Pikes Peak Kiwanis Club members.

In turn, Sarah Hibbard’s art students at Aragon had created two huge quilt-like mosaic art pieces that were hung in the restaurant’s art gallery.

For Koats 4 Kids co-founder Jen Furda, the heart-warming evening is always a special way to “leave the world a more beautiful place” and to bring together a group of people for “kids, culture and community.”

At evening’s end, volunteers carried huge armloads of coats, almost 400, out the door to a waiting van.

More photos: http://tinyurl.com/3gao7jg