Executive Director Leonardo Garcia of the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida is proud to announce that Neal Communities has once again stepped up to become the presenting sponsor of the annual BIG Backpack Event. The beneficiaries of this generous support are the 2,000 Lee County students and their families who will receive free backpacks, school supplies and bags full of kid-friendly groceries at the 23rd annual Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida BIG Backpack Event set for Sunday, July 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Myers Skatium.
This is the seventh straight year Neal Communities will sponsor the event, providing much needed economic relief and supplying children with new backpacks filled with pencils, pens, paper, crayons, folders and other essential back-to-school items kids need to go back to school in the fall.
“We are proud to be a part of this incredible event that supports students and their families in Southwest Florida communities,” said Tim Oak, SWFL Regional President of Neal Communities. “The Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida does an amazing job of providing struggling families the resources they need to kick of the new school year.”
The BIG Backpack Event will once again use a carline this year to distribute the necessary supplies. The first 2,000 children ages 5 to 12 will receive free backpacks and school supplies and each family will receive a grocery bag full of kid-friendly food such as peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese, pasta and spaghetti sauce.
“It’s thanks to the generosity of presenting sponsor Neal Communities, the City of Fort Myers, media,volunteers and collaboration with other non-profits that we can make the community impact we do,” says Connie Ramos-Williams, event co-chair and president of CONRIC pr + marketing. “For the past 22 years it has brought me joy to see the smiles on kids’ and parents’ faces as they receive their new backpacks.”
Over 40,000 backpacks have been distributed to families over the event’s 22-year history. With an estimated 80 percent of Lee County children qualify for free or reduced meal programs at their schools, the need is high and support such as this is beneficial to families.
Additional sponsors of this family event include: Fort Myers Broadcasting, News-Press, Lee County Family News, Comcast, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Community Cooperative, HABA, CONRIC pr + marketing, City of Fort Myers, Lee County School District and Children Medical Services Health Plan.
For more information on the event, to volunteer, or to make a donation, visit www.multicultural-centre.org or email info@multicultural-centre.org.
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