More than 500 Volunteers fill 20,000 backpacks with school supplies in less than two hours
PHILADELPHIA, August 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Nearly 500 volunteers gathered yesterday at Lincoln Financial Field to pack 20,000 backpacks with school supplies for low-income and homeless children as part of United Way ofGreater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and Cradles to Crayons’ 2012 Backpack-A-Thon™.
The day started off with remarks from Philadelphia Eagles President Don Smolenski, Cradles to Crayons Executive Director Michal Smith, Walmart Director of Operations Amy Corso, President & CEO of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens forPennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey President & CEO Jill Michal and ACE Group Vice President of Marketing Larry Hastings. All thanked those in attendance for offering their time to help children in need be prepared for the first day of school and beyond. Following the opening program, lively music from a DJ allowed volunteers to stay energized as they filled the backpacks in assembly line fashion, making sure that each bag received folders, pens, pencils, rulers and other supplies that children need to succeed in the classroom.
The largest one-day back-to-school event in the region, the 2012 Backpack-A-Thon sets out to help children start the school year equipped with the tools needed to succeed in the classroom. As the poorest of the nation’s 10 largest cities,Philadelphia‘s child poverty rate is the highest it’s been in 50 years. As a result, parents from economically-challenged backgrounds often find it difficult to provide their children with the most basic of needs, including school supplies. And statistics show that children from low-income communities start first grade up to two years behind their peers from moderate- to upper-income households.
Jill Michal said the partnership makes it possible for children in need to start the school year on a level playing field.
“For many, their education will be the strongest economic equalizer they will ever know,” Michal said. “It’s our belief that all children — whether they’re coming from a shelter, a foster home or a home where parents are struggling to make ends meet — deserve to start the new school year with all the tools they’ll need to achieve.”
Michal Smith applauded the volunteers who came together to make the first day of school an exciting event for children in need.
“However, there are still a large number of children who need our help,” she added, pointing out that from 2000 to 2010, poverty rose to affect one in five children in the Philadelphia region. “With rates rising faster in suburban communities, it makes it imperative that Cradles to Crayons keeps the backpacks filled year round.”
Cradles to Crayons and United Way are proud to have the following organizations as 2012 Backpack-A-Thon sponsors: Platinum Sponsors – Citizens Bank, Philadelphia Eagles and Walmart; Gold Sponsors: Aberdeen Assets, ACE Group, Cigna and SAP.
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