More Than 100 Smiles Delivered in Brownsville, Brooklyn
Written by United Way of New York City
Imagine starting your first day of second grade surrounded by Star Wars Storm Troopers, Disney princesses, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Hello Kitty—familiar, favorite playmates. You smile. You feel reassured. You get excited to meet your classmates, to open your books, to read new stories.
On September 8, FedEx volunteers teamed up with United Way of New York City (UWNYC) to make this first day of school possible. Together, they distributed more than 100 backpacks covered in beloved heroes and brimming with school supplies to students at P.S. 156 in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
UWNYC supports P.S. 156 through ReadNYC—its signature campaign for grade-level reading. In 2015, UWNYC launched ReadNYC in Brownsville in response to the fact that 87% of third graders in this community are not reading at grade-level. And studies show that children who do not read at grade-level by third grade are 70% less likely to graduate from high school.
ReadNYC aims to turn grave stats like these around by boosting literacy and improving education outcomes in New York City’s lowest-income communities. To do so, the initiative is bringing together children, families, schools, and community and corporate organizations, like FedEx, to target grade-level reading and help students thrive.
As part of ReadNYC’s programming and FedEx, this distribution event concluded UWNYC’s annual Back to School Drive. In total, more than 1,800 backpacks were collected and delivered by FedEx to UWNYC-supported schools across the City.
"While the new school year can be an exciting time for many young students, it is often a challenging time for children and families in our city’s low-income communities, who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Sheena Wright, President & CEO of United Way of New York City. “We are delighted to work with FedEx to bring critical resources to students in need so they can succeed in the school year to come and beyond.”
At the event, FedEx volunteers carefully unloaded backpacks from a FedEx Cares truck and put them on display for students’ eager eyes in the school auditorium. Then, one by one volunteers teamed with a student to help them choose their perfect pack.
By using their shipping services expertise, FedEx volunteers equipped these kids with the tools they need to charge into their first day of school ready to learn, while also lifting a monetary burden off their parents’ and caregivers’ shoulders.
“We are proud to make this FedEx Cares shipment that will provide students with the supplies they need to succeed,” said Nanette Malebranche, Managing Director of Long Island District, FedEx Express. “It’s an example of how we are using our network to deliver for good in communities like New York and around the world.”
Suited up in their favorite back-to-school packs, the backpack bonanza ended with volunteers watching the heroically clad students march confidently toward their first class.
“A warm thanks for the work that FedEx and United Way of New York City did to bring 100 backpacks to our school,” said Naiyma Moore-Allen, Principal I.A., P.S. 156. “We are grateful for the contribution and look forward to an amazing school year!”
See photos from the Back-to-School Backpack Bonanza
This event was part of FedEx Cares United Way campaign, including the FedEx Cares initiative through which the company is investing $200 million in more than 200 global communities by 2020 to create opportunities and deliver solutions for people around the world.
