On Thursday, Sept. 22, people will open their hearts – and wallets – to thousands of worthy causes on North Texas Giving Day. One of those causes is a project for Dallas ISD pre-K students.
The “Backpack for Books” program will serve 600 district pre-K classrooms by providing each two backpacks filled with reading materials that families can use to work with their children at home. Each pre-K student will have the chance to take a backpack home twice during the school year.
In addition to the books, which are geared for students beginning to learn how to read, there are projects families will do together to reinforce the language skills introduced in the books. When the child returns the backpack to school, he or she will have the chance to share the family’s project with the class.
Donations in any amount to the Backpacks for Books on North Texas Giving Day will go directly to purchase backpacks and reading materials. Each book-filled backpack costs $185. Donations of at least $25 on North Texas Giving Day will receive bonus funding from the Communities Foundation of Texas.
To donate to Dallas ISD’s Backpacks for Books project, visit the project page between 6 a.m. and midnight on Sept. 22.
The backpacks project is coordinated by the Dallas Education Foundation, which is the independent fundraising organization for Dallas ISD. The nonprofit organization is governed by an independent board of directors and seeks community support for districtwide initiatives that create greater opportunities for students.
In its first seven years, North Texas Giving Day has collected $119 million for North Texas nonprofits. Last year, $33 million was raised via more than 118,000 gifts for 2,020 nonprofits.