Communities In Schools Joins the Office Depot Foundation to Send Kids to School In Style
The Nation’s Largest Dropout Prevention Organization Is a Partner in 2007 National Backpack Program
Alexandria, VA - Communities In Schools, the nation's largest dropout prevention organization, is again joining the Office Depot Foundation to make sure kids have an essential back-to-school item when they head to class this year. CIS, along with other national youth services organizations, is a partner in the 2007 Office Depot Foundation National Backpack Program. The program will distribute new backpacks to more than 300,000 students across the United States and Canada.
"Making sure young people have what they need to succeed in school is a key to making sure they stay in school. Every student needs a backpack, and the Office Depot Foundation National Backpack Program is a great way to make sure those who may not be able to afford one aren't left out," said Daniel J. Cardinali, president of Communities In Schools.
As part of its commitment to the program, Communities In Schools will distribute more than 20,000 backpacks donated by the Office Depot Foundation to young people in 12 communities across the country. The organization will be coordinating the distribution through its local affiliates in:
| • Chicago | • Las Vegas | • New Orleans | • Seattle |
| • Dallas | • Los Angeles | • Palm Beach County, FL | • Wake County, NC |
| • Houston | • Miami | • Philadelphia | • Washington |
Each community will participate in a "Backpack Donation Day" event during the month of August attended by community leaders and local and state officials.
The Office Depot Foundation National Backpack Program is now in its seventh year. During that time, more than one million backpacks have been distributed to children ages 5-12. Along with Communities In Schools, other partners in this year’s program are the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association, Feed The Children, the Kids In Need Foundation, National PTA, and the National Foundation for Women Legislators.
Communities In Schools is the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization, working in more than 3,200 K-12 public schools. Founded in 1977, Communities In Schools is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. Today, nearly one million young people every year receive direct services through more than 200 Communities In Schools local affiliates in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Between 80-90 percent of our tracked students show improvement in academic achievement, attendance, behavior and promotion to the next grade level.
Contact: Debbie Veney Robinson, CIS National Office, 703-518-2545, RobinsonD@CISNet.org