The Ready for Learning Backpack-A-Thon® is an exciting corporate event that brings hundreds of corporate volunteers together to stuff thousands of backpacks for local children living in poverty. Backpacks are filled assembly-line style with all the new school supplies a child needs to be ready to learn, and then picked up by our Nonprofit Social Service Partners directly from the site and distributed to local children within days. This high energy event is fueled by great spirit, friendly competition and provides an incredible opportunity for corporate engagement and team building. Backpack-A-Thon is the signature fundraising event for our Ready for Learning initiative, which distributes backpacks filled with new, age-appropriate school supplies and packages filled with shoes, clothing, and more, to ensure that children arrive at school on the first day prepared and excited to learn! Corporate supporters are invited to join us and help fill 30,000 backpacks with new school supplies for local children in need. Sponsorship opportunities with event participation at Lincoln Financial Field are limited. 

Get your company involved!

Corporate partners are critical to the success of this program and we welcome the opportunity to work together on customizing a Ready for Learning partnership to meet your company’s social responsibility goals.

Cradles to Crayons looks forward to engaging you in these high-impact opportunities to give back. Contact Bryanna Galvan, Development Associate of Corporate Engagement, at  bgalvan@cradlestocrayons.org or 302-216-8188 for more information, or to discuss how your organization can get involved in our Ready for Learning initiative.

Ready for Learning Initiative 

Backpack-A-Thon is the signature fundraising event for our Ready for Learning initiative, which distributes backpacks filled with new, age-appropriate school supplies and packages filled with shoes, clothing, and more, to ensure that children arrive at school on the first day prepared and excited to learn! 

The Need

Starting school without the tools needed to succeed can put big obstacles in a developing child’s way. Items like backpacks, art supplies, writing tools, and back-to-school clothing and shoes are imperative to help get children mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for school. New backpacks and supplies give children a sense of pride and excitement to go back to school. With these tools, they are more likely to attend school and complete homework — knowing they have the same chance at school success as their peers. Parents can focus on rent and groceries instead of facing the stress of school-related expenses.

You Can Help

Cradles to Crayons needs your support to help get thousands of local children prepared to learn and dressed for success! Just $33 provides one child with a package full of head-to-toe essentials: clothing, shoes, a lightweight jacket, books, and a backpack full of new school supplies. 

Thank you to our 2023 Supporters!