Backpack, check. School supplies, check. Friends, smiles, and laughter, check! Wednesday, August 28, 2024 was a day to remember. Our Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway is an annual favorite for our community members and program partners, but, more importantly, for the students, families, and teachers we strive to support. Together, we celebrate being on the cusp of another school year, and the endless possibilities it brings. 

And, this year marks an impressive milestone for the Corey C. Griffin Foundation (CCGF): 3,000 backpacks full of the necessary supplies for each student, making our event the largest of its kind in the City of Boston!

The festivities included food trucks, bouncy slide, mini basketball, and DJ-spun music as hundreds of families gathered throughout the day to collect their supplies, chat with teachers, and get ready for the big first day of school. Special guest and former Boston Celtics player, Brian Scalabrine, cheered on families and handed out backpacks alongside the Griffin family members and friends. 

As her children took turns getting stencils paintings on their hands, parent Michelle Ulrich noted she was thrilled with the event, “I love it! We really appreciate everything the Foundation is doing for the families today.” Anticipating pre-K and first grade, their next stop was to the backpack tent, and she was looking forward to saying hello to the Griffin’s. 

But this type of event doesn’t happen overnight. In partnership with the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, our Board and Emerging Leaders Council members, over 20 generous sponsors, including Staples and BJs, and more than 130 dedicated volunteers have been coordinating backpack collections, supplies, and donations throughout the summer in anticipation of this very special day. We even had an energizing day earlier in August to just stuff backpacks for these students.

As Foundation President Chandra Clark greeted students and families, she noted, “We are so thankful for everyone who contributed and showed their support for Corey’s Kids this year! Sometimes it’s the little things, like a backpack full of learning materials, that makes the difference for a child to feel valued and positioned for success.” 

We are grateful for our program partner, Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy, Lower Mills, in Dorchester, for hosting a space large enough to accommodate the day’s guests. 

We can’t wait to see everyone again next year!

Visit our event webpage for more details. 

For more information about the Backpack Giveaway or how you can support CCGF, please contact Foundation President Chandra Clark, [email protected].