Community Partners Launch Broward’s Back to School Community Extravaganza
Community Partners Launch the Broward’s
Back to School Community Extravaganza
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: The Children’s Services Council of Broward County has approved a $30,000 challenge grant and staff support to help Broward County Schools social workers provide more than 4,000 backpacks with school supplies, uniforms and shoes to students identified as ” living in unstable conditions” in preparation for the 2012-13 school year. Too often, because these children are not classified as “homeless,” they are the ones that fall through the cracks.
The 2012-13 CSC Broward Back to School Community Extravaganza hopes to benefit more than 4,000 children, including new populations identified by Henderson Behavioral Health, ChildNet, Family Central, and SOS Children’s Village. The top priority will be providing new school uniforms, backpacks, supplies and shoes. Buoyed by last year’s success, the hard-working committee has already begun identifying corporate sponsors to support these efforts and have gained a monetary commitment of $10,000 from Wells Fargo, money and backpacks totaling $7,500 from Pediatrics Associates Foundation and 500 backpacks from Baptist Health, already received by the CSC.
For a second year, working in partnership with the School Board of Broward County’s social workers who are identifying the children and will help in the distribution, this community- wide effort includes more than a dozen organizational supporters. Apart from Wells Fargo, Pediatrics Associates and Baptist Health South Florida, there’s Neighbors 4 Neighbors, In Jacob’s Shoes, Running With Sole, 211-Broward, HandsOn Broward, Carlyn Uniforms, Community Foundation of Broward, Tools for Schools Broward and more.
How does the public get involved?
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One check for $30 can fully outfit one child, so the general public is being asked to participate by donating money, by buying and dropping off supplies, by volunteering to ensure that the 4000 backpacks are packed and/or by participating in one of the advertised events listed on the 211 Broward community calendar. Drop off points for school supply donations between the hours of 9 AM to 4 PM from Monday to Fridays include:
- Family Central – 840 S.W. 81st Avenue, North Lauderdale, FL 33068-2001
- Children’s Services Council – 6600 W Commercial Blvd, Lauderhill, FL 33319
- Henderson Mental Health – Headway Park, 4740 N. State Road 7, Building B, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319
- Community Enhancement Collaboration Inc. – 901 South State Road 7, Suite 410, Bank of America Building, Hollywood, FL 33023
Needed supplies include: Notebook paper, pens, pencils, composition books, glue sticks, coloring pencils, erasers, spiral notebooks, 3 pronged folders, rulers, crayons, school scissors, highlighters, colored markers, zippered pencil bags, calculators.
All checks can be made payable to the Community Foundation of Broward with a notation on the memo line stating “The Children Services Council of Broward Charity Fund”. These checks should be mailed to the Children Services Council of Broward County, 6600 West Commercial Blvd, Lauderhill, FL 33319.
Donations via credit cards can be made to Neighbors4Neighbors through their website –
http://www.neighbors4neighbors.org. Donations using this route should be designated for “Broward Back to School Community Extravaganza” which will be a choice on the drop down menu of the donation page.
Businesses can join the county- wide effort in several ways:
- Encouraging their staff to write individual checks for $30
- Donating and/or collecting school supplies and backpacks and have CSC or HandsOn Broward Staff collect these donations and supplies
- Encouraging staff to bring in new and/or gently used shoes for collection by In Jacob’s Shoes
The campaign will culminate with an Assembly Party on August 4th when the community will have another opportunity to donate supplies for the Extravaganza as well as join scores of volunteers assemble the backpacks:
Event: Back to School Extravaganza Assembly Party
- Date: 4th August, 2012
- Time: 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Venue: 6600 W Commercial Blvd, Lauderhill, Fl 33319
For more information on the Broward’s Back to School Community Extravaganza call 954-377-1000 or visit www.neighbors4neighbors.org.
The Children’s Services Council of Broward is an independent taxing authority established by a public referendum on September 5, 2000, which, through Public Act, Chapter 2000-461 of the laws of Florida, authorized the Council to levy up to 0.5 mills of property taxes. The role of the Council is to provide the leadership, advocacy and resources necessary to enhance children’s lives and empower them to become responsible, productive adults through collaborative planning and funding of a continuum of quality care.
