Elementary students get back-to-school boost from Backpack Buddies and ATSU
Posted: July 17, 2009[cincopa 10491576]
ATSU staff members from Institutional Advancement joined more than 1,100 children from Title 1 elementary schools at the Legacy Backpack Buddies Project at Phoenix Preparatory Academy on July 15.
Backpack Buddies gives children from low-income families the opportunity to receive brand new back-to-school clothing. Each student receives a backpack and is able to go through the gymnasium with a volunteer and choose various items such as shirts, shorts, books, and shoes.
The annual event runs for one week every July. Legacy Connection, the fundraising affiliate of BHHS Legacy Foundation, expects to see more than 4,000 students come through this year.
“It was such a rewarding experience to see the joy on the children’s faces when they realized everything was for them,” says Whitney Roberts, director of development for institutional advancement.
This is the second year the Institutional Advancement team has volunteered and sponsored a classroom for the event.
“It is great to be able to participate in wonderful events like this,” says Gretchen Buhlig, associate vice president for institutional advancement.