Back(pack) to School Initiative

Starting off the school year with fresh supplies!

The start of a new school year is a fresh start, and it’s an exciting time.

Kids and parents alike kick off the new year with hopes and goals. Some of the hopes may include new friendships, feeling like part of the school community, and having interesting and fun experiences. Some of the goals may include improved study habits and being more organized.

The Corey C. Griffin Foundation is happy to play a part in helping kids in the Boston area prepare for a positive school year. During the summer, we started collecting backpacks and school supplies. In late August we held a backpack stuffing event, where volunteers filled new donated backpacks with fun school essentials. Our Emerging Leaders Council (ELC) helped us coordinate this effort! We received supply donations from CCGF supporters and held a drop off site at Medfield Village Cleaners. Thank you to all who contributed.

After 1,000 backpacks were prepped, they were distributed two days later at a Back to School BBQ & Backpack event in Dorchester Park. The Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers (MAMLEO) was the principal organizer, and we were proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of this amazing community-building event, providing backpacks, each filled with school supplies, for all attendees. We also created and passed out over 50 teacher kits. Over 3,000 people attended, including school-aged children and their families. In addition to picking out a backpack, the families were treated to multiple food stations, ice cream trucks, games, face painting, selfie stations, and more!

Here’s to an awesome school year for students in our “Corey’s Kids” programs, as well as all students everywhere. May the year be filled with learning, friendship, and fun.