Rainbow Days’ 30th Annual Back-to-School Celebration To Provide New Backpacks and Uniforms for 1,100 Dallas-Area Homeless and At-Risk Children/Youth
CAPTRUST, Title Sponsor | MoneyGram Foundation, Presenting Sponsor
Rainbow Days will host its 30th annual Back-to-School Celebration on Wednesday, August 11, 2021.
Chaired by Regina Bruce and Dr. Carla Russo and in partnership with CAPTRUST, Title Sponsor and MoneyGram Foundation, Presenting Sponsor and numerous individual and corporate donors, Rainbow Days’ Back-to-School Celebration will provide new backpacks, school supplies and uniforms to over 1,100 homeless and at-risk children living in poverty in the Dallas community. Children and youth who will benefit from the supplies attend one of Rainbow Days’ partnering schools in Dallas ISD and/or reside in one of 30 different local motels, transitional living sites, and homeless and domestic violence shelters.
Each August, Rainbow Days hosts a private event for homeless and at-risk children and youth at the Dallas Market Center so they can celebrate going back to school with bounce houses, carnival games and delicious refreshments. In addition to meeting homeless children’s tangible needs, the Back-to-School Celebration evokes excitement and builds confidence as each child will leave the event with a new backpack filled with school supplies, a new uniform and a new after-school outfit. Although this celebration is closed to the public, the community can help with donations by visiting this page* on Amazon.com.
“Children and youth who are youth experiencing housing insecurity, poverty or homelessness face tremendous adversity and a host of challenges which affects their academic success,” shares Rainbow Days’ CEO, Tiffany Beaudine. “Rainbow Days meets the needs of these vulnerable children by providing year-round social emotional support group services and tangible items. By providing each child with the supplies they need for the new school year through this event, we are not just meeting a basic need, but we are sending them a positive message. The message that education is important, someone cares about you, and we believe that you can succeed in school.”
"At CAPTRUST, we understand that education opens doors, broadens horizons and sets kids up for success. That is why we are partnering with Rainbow Days as its Title Sponsor to help make sure that children in our community walk into their classrooms with the school supplies they need to feel prepared and confident,” said John Pickett, Senior Vice President, CAPTRUST.
Since 1992, the Dallas Market Center has partnered with Rainbow Days to host this celebratory event by donating space and services each year. Additionally, each child attending this year’s event will get to “shop” for a fashionable new outfit generously provided through Rainbow Days’ partnership with KIDBOX/Delivering Good.
It takes a village to host this event each year. Rainbow Days would like to recognize the generosity of our financial and in-kind donors as well as over 400 volunteers who will help make this event and entire project possible. Special thanks to Event Chairs: Regina Bruce and Dr. Carla Russo, Dallas Market Center, CAPTRUST, MoneyGram Foundation, Carol and Curt Welwood, KIDBOX/Delivering Good, New Hope Compassion, Bank of America, BDO USA, LLC, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Dallas Police Association, Holy Smokers Men’s Group, DFW Collective of Black Employee Resource Groups (The BERGs), Young Men’s Service League, National Charity League and more! Special thanks also go to Dallas Market Center’s Dimiti Collins (Operations Manager) and Gary Gabriel (Director of Sales and Operations), both of whom are critical to the event’s success each August.
ABOUT RAINBOW DAYS: The Back-to-School Celebration is a program of Rainbow Days Inc, a 501(c)(3) Dallas-based nonprofit organization. Founded in 1982, Rainbow Days has a mission to help children and youth in adversity build coping skills and resilience to create positive futures. Through social-emotional learning (SEL) support groups, presentations, camps, mentored events and tangible items, Rainbow Days serves more than 9,000 at-risk children and youth in the Dallas area annually. For more information about the Back-to-School Celebration or Rainbow Days, please visit www.RainbowDays.org or call (214) 887-0726.
* Link to “this page” on Amazon.com: https://smile.amazon.com/hz/charitylist/ls/1BG3Q1XQ81TAD/ref=smi_ext_lnk_lcl_cl