



Hello! My name is Shane Griffith, Public Information Officer for the Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso County, Texas. Thank you for checking out our crowd funding campaign for “Operation Paint It Back” – the mission to repaint a huge mural of the United States Flag back onto the orange wall at the new Reyes Elementary School before it opens in August 2015.Late last year, the school district painted a flag mural that covered a portion of the wall’s canvas. However, the developer rejected the design by stating that the red, white and blue did not match the surrounding neighborhood and issued the order to cover up the flag mural with the orange color. Fortunately, the developer recently reversed its decision and now the Canutillo school district can proceed with the repainting of the flag mural on a canvas that measures 313.5 feet wide and 26 feet tall for a total surface area of 6,150 square feet, minus wall openings and building overlay.Now local veterans like Jarred Taylor and Vince Vargas (both veterans of Afghanistan) and the Canutillo Independent School District need your help. Our district taxpayers did not appropriate the funds we need to perform this project when they voted for the bond back in 2011. And time is ticking. We need to raise $35,000 to issue the painting contract and ensure that this wall is red, white and blue when we celebrate the grand opening of Reyes Elementary on August 13, 2015.We know this is an ambitious campaign. As a special incentive, the Canutillo school district will engrave the names of those who donate at least $250 on a special plaque of recognition. We will install this plaque next to the flag wall and unveil it to the public during the big grand opening. One hundred percent of Operation Paint It Back proceeds will go toward the painting contract. If we exceed our objective, then we will place all additional funds in a special Reyes Elementary account to maintain the mural in the future.Please help us honor our veterans, instill American values and love of country in thousands of future students, and visibly remind everyone that freedom is not free.Thank you in advance for supporting Operation Paint It Back.