Rainbow Days hosted its 28th annual Back-to-School Celebration on August 14 providing new backpacks, school supplies and uniforms to more than 700 homeless children living in nearly 30 different local motels, transitional living sites, and homeless and domestic violence shelters.
In partnership with the MoneyGram Foundation and numerous individual and corporate donors, Rainbow Days hosts this private annual event for homeless children 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.
“For children experiencing homelessness, the immense adversity and instability they face outside of the classroom can often lead to academic challenges,” shares Rainbow Days’ Director of Family Connection Kelly Wierzbinski. “Each and every child deserves to succeed in school, and the Back-to-School Celebration helps bridge this gap by building homeless children’s confidence for a fresh start and a successful school year.”
Rainbow Days thanked the financial and in-kind donors as well as the many volunteers who made the entire project possible, including: Dallas Market Center, MoneyGram Foundation, KIDBOX / Delivering Good, Women of St. Michael, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Hope Supply Co., Bank of America, Aimbridge Hospitality, Region 10, Prince of Peace Catholic Community, Schwob Building Company, KPMG, Brennan’s Heart, Kevin Orzen from Global Experience Specialist, Citi, Southwest Airlines, BVA Group, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Dallas Chapter of the Interior Design Society, ESRP, USI, Young Men’s Service League and National Charity League .
ABOUT RAINBOW DAYS: The Back-to-School Celebration is a program of Rainbow Days, 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 support groups, camps, mentored events and tangible items, Rainbow Days serves more than 10,000 at-risk children and youth in the Dallas area annually. For more information, please visit www.RainbowDays.org or call (214) 887-0726.