Backpack Project Helps More than 1,300 Kids Get Ready for Back to School

In The News
August 15, 2018

Ropes & Gray attorneys and support professionals helped more than 1,300 children in need get a good start to the upcoming school year by providing them with new backpacks, clothing and school supplies as part of the firm’s annual Backpack Project.

The firm has sponsored the Backpack Project since 1999. At the beginning of every school year, attorney and support team volunteers shop or donate money for backpacks, school supplies and back-to-school outfits. The bags are then filled with the supplies and clothes, and distributed to local charity groups that help needy children.

This year’s recipients included the following organizations:

  • Boston: Project Hope, Heading Home, Sojourner House, Transition House, St. Mary's, Margaret House, Bridge Home, St. Ambrose, Victory Home, MBHP, Casa Nueva Vida
  • New York: Fox House, Sojourner Truth House, Win (formerly Women in Need)
  • Chicago: Cradles to Crayons and Chicago Public Schools
  • San Francisco: San Francisco Youth Program
  • Silicon Valley: Santa Clara Foster Youth Program
  • Washington, D.C.: Coalition for the Homeless
  • Hong Kong: Heep Hong Society and Po Leung Kuk

 

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In New York, Ropes & Gray was the largest sponsor of Win’s Backpack Buddies program, donating backpacks to children at the Junius shelter in Brooklyn, which supports about 450 families. Volunteers from the firm were on hand at the East New York shelter on August 10 to distribute the packs.

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On August 8, dozens of Boston volunteers packed and tagged bags that were distributed to 11 different organizations and more than 800 area children.

 

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San Francisco summer associates dressed up and delivered ice cream sundaes around the office to raise additional funds for their city’s project.

 

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Children at the Heep Hong Society proudly hold up their new backpacks. Ropes & Gray’s Hong Kong office donated 150 backpacks to the organization in early September.