Despite the shortened summer break and challenges caused by the pandemic, GL Homes and Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Back-To-School Drive successfully collected more than 2,400 backpacks stuffed with school essentials. With the strong support of nearly 40 community partners, all Club members attending summer camps received a new backpack filled with the supplies needed to start the new school year successfully.
“Due to the pandemic and distance learning issues, this new school year is crucial. It’s important for GL Homes to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s efforts to help all children reach their full potential. For many Club members, they would not be able to return to school with new supplies without this back-to-school drive,” explained Sarah Alsofrom GL Homes senior director of community relations. “To ensure all Club members received the needed supplies, GL Homes made a significant additional donation as the title sponsor of the drive.”
Unlike previous years, the shortened summer break made it more challenging for community partners to collect the needed school supplies. As a result, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County incorporated a virtual drive, which allowed donors to safely and easily purchase and ship items directly to the Clubs. Traditional donation drop-off locations included most Starbucks, Tropical Smoothie Cafés, Sears and more than three dozen other sites.
Title sponsor, GL Homes, led the charge. Organizations such as The Mack Foundation, The Education Foundation, 88.1 Way-FM, Maschmeyer Concrete, Democratic Women of North Palm Beach County, The Palm Beach County School District – Office of Diversity in Business Practices and Tropical Shipping also made significant donations.
“This year, we faced an enormous challenge due to the short summer break. We were able to persevere thanks to the support of our amazing community partners,” said President & CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Jaene Miranda. “We are confident that our Club children will be able to enter the new school year with full confidence and ready to defeat the achievement gap that has negatively impacted them due to the pandemic.”
The tremendous outpouring of support allowed Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County to distribute backpacks in time for the first day of school, August 10. The Clubs will also distribute additional backpacks and school supplies throughout the school year to ensure that all children have the supplies necessary to achieve.
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