Neighbor to Neighbor, Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, and Point72 are working together to supply Greenwich students with Under Armour backpacks filled with school supplies for the new school year this fall.
Backpacks and school supplies including folders, binders, notebooks, pencils, pens, and crayons were generously donated through a grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. The backpacks were filled with the school supplies by employees of Point72 during a volunteer event on the firm’s Stamford campus.
Neighbor to Neighbor distributed over 470 backpacks to their clients. Neighbor to Neighbor recognizes the support from Staples (Riverside) who kindly assisted with preferred pricing as well as supplying Crayola crayon boxes for the elementary students. Neighbor to Neighbor also expresses their gratitude for the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation and Point72, and their generous support in expanding the backpack program throughout the community. With their help, five additional Greenwich organizations were able to be involved in the program including the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Barbara’s House, the YWCA Greenwich, and the Greenwich Department of Human Services.
“At Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, we believe that it takes a village to raise a child,” said Cristina Vittoria, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich. “We appreciate our partnership with Neighbor to Neighbor and recognize the generosity of Point72, who provided backpacks to our kids for the fall.”
As the cost of living continues to rise, ensuring that families can send their children to school with the proper supplies is at the forefront of many parents’ minds. “For most of those we serve, the barrier to success is financial,” said Gaby Rattner, Barbara’s House Executive Director. “It means everything to be able to send our youngest clients back to school with everything they need for a successful start to the school year. Thank you!”.
“Thank you to Point72 for assisting our community with meeting the needs of their children. For the families we serve, not having to allocate funds for backpacks and school supplies makes a significant impact,” said Demetria Nelson, LCSW, MA, Greenwich Department of Human Services Commissioner.
For the YWCA Greenwich, the backpacks made a significant difference in their domestic abuse service program. “The backpacks we received went to families in our domestic abuse services area. With the backpacks from Neighbor to Neighbor, which came packed with a few supplies for each child, our parents can send their children to school with the learning tools they need to help them have a smooth start to their school year,” said Mary Lee A. Kiernan, YWCA President & CEO.
“We look forward to continuing the partnership established last summer with Neighbor to Neighbor and their backpack program,” said Matthew Skaarup, CEO of YMCA of Greenwich.
“The backpacks and school supplies will have a significant impact on the local children participating in Running Start, the YMCA’s back-to-school shopping program.”.
Neighbor to Neighbor is a nonprofit organization that aims to improve the lives of Greenwich residents by increasing access to food and basic living necessities. To learn more visit www.ntngreenwich.org.
