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Let’s get kids Ready for Learning: From Head to Toe.

Clothing and school essentials are both inaccessible and unaffordable for millions of U.S. families already working hard to pay rent or put food on the table. Our Ready for Learning initiative will provide back-to-school outfits and 252,000 backpacks filled with learning supplies—free of charge—to kids who need them.

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Every day, 2 in 5 children in the United States go without clothing, shoes, diapers, and school supplies.

 

Cradles to Crayons’ Ready for Learning initiative will distribute hundreds of thousands of outfits and backpacks filled with supplies this season—for free.

The Need

Families spend an average of $890 a year to get their kids ready for school from head to toe—and costs continue to rise. School essentials like clothing, shoes, and supplies are both inaccessible and unaffordable for families already working hard to pay rent or put food on the table.

Donate Now!

The Initiative

Our 2024 Ready for Learning initiative will provide clothing, shoes, and 252,000 backpacks filled with learning supplies—free of charge. These outfits and backpacks are distributed through a network of over 300 Service Partners, including major school districts in Massachusetts, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, and organizations in NYC and San Francisco.

The Event

Cradles to Crayons brings together thousands of civically-minded volunteers to our annual Backpack-A-Thons® to pack hundreds of thousands of backpacks full of supplies in just a few hours!

  • July 31 in Chicago, IL (9th Annual)
  • August 1 in Boston, MA (18th Annual)
  • August 2 in Wilmington, DE (3rd Annual)
  • August 22 in Philadelphia, PA (15th Annual)

Learn more about Ready for Learning in your community and the work we’re doing across the U.S. to End Clothing Insecurity!

Get involved!

 

 

Thank you to our Cradles to Crayons’ Ready for Learning 2024 Presenting Sponsors:

Massachusetts

Greater Philadelphia

Chicagoland

Delaware

Additional support for Ready for Learning from:

360PR+, A.I.M. Mutual Insurance Companies, AAA, ABRDN, Advent International, L.P.,AIT Worldwide Logistics, Akuna Capital, ALKU, Amazon, Analog Devices, Aqua, Arcadium Lithium, Arch Insurance, Ares Management, Argo Group, AvalonBay Communities, Inc., BAE Systems, Bain Capital, Bank of America, Bay State IT, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Blackrock, Callahan Construction Managers, CBRE, Chamberlain Group, Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation, Chesapeake Utilities, CHOP, Citizens Bank, Columbia Construction Company, Comcast NBCUniversal, Comparion Insurance, Comparion Insurance, Direct Federal Credit Union, DLL, DOW, Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., Eastern Bank, Egon Zehnder, Enova, Ewing  Cole, Ferrara USA, Fidelity Investments, FS Investments, GBLI, GEM Realty Capital, Globetrotters, Grand Foundation, Green Choice Energy, Guidehouse, Hamilton Lane, Harmelin Media, Harmony Biosciences, Harvard Business School, Heitman, Hercules Capital, Highmark, Hilco Redevelopment Partners, IBX, IDEX, Illinois Tool Works, IMC Financial, Income Research + Management, Jackson National Life, KIA, Kirkland & Ellis LLP,KPMG LLP, Massive Mission Media, McCarter & English, McDermott Will & Emery, McGuire Woods LLP, Mesirow Financial, MFS Investment Management, Mimecast, Mondrian, National Development, National Grid, Neuraptive, New Balance, Noblis ,Northern Trust, Numerator, NXT Capital, PECO, PEPCO, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, PHLY Insurance, PNC Bank, Polsinelli, PPM America, Principal, Protiviti Global Business Consulting, Radius, Raymond James, Ropes & Gray LLP, Safety Insurance, Sanofi, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Shaw’s/Star Market, STAG Industrial, The Baupost Group, The Village Bank, TJX, TMNAS, Topfer Family Foundation, UPS, Vistria Group, Waterton, William Blair, and WSFS.