Quarterly Newsletter | April 2021
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Correction: Unfortunately, a working draft of today's Backpack Bulletin was sent in place of the final email. Our apologies! Please see the updated email below.
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FAST FACTS:
With students returning to the classroom, most of our JCPS programs have resumed distributing Blessings in a Backpack. We are currently feeding almost 4,000 kids in 39 schools.
We couldn't continue our work without support from all the amazing Family Resource Counselors and staff who help distribute Blessings each week! Thank you for allowing us to make sure the students at your school have food to eat over the weekend. Your efforts ensure kids don’t go hungry.
You can feed a Blessings student every weekend for an entire school year with just a $120 donation.
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PACK THE SACK:
Thank you to everyone who attended and tuned in to our first-ever virtual Pack the Sack event. Because of you, we raised almost $50,000, allowing us to feed 375 children for an entire school year!
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Derby City Gaming, for their generous support, plus donating event swag to all guests! We also thank these amazing sponsors who helped make the event happen: US Foods, Old 502 Winery, Christie Cookies, Party Zone Productions, and Honeywick Marketing.
Thank you to our hosts Dawne Gee and Tony Vanetti, for giving their time and talent to support our chapter.
And, a huge shout-out to our favorite celebrity chef Darnell "SuperChef" Ferguson, who prepared a world-class dinner for us all to enjoy.
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HAPPENING NOW:
Now thru May 31
We’re participating in the myWalgreens donation program! You can donate your myWalgreens cash rewards to the Blessings Louisville Chapter now thru May 31. Check out our website for details!
WHAT'S AHEAD:
August 16
- 11:30pET Lunch
- 12:30pET Shotgun Start
- Team: $1,200
- Hole Sponsor: $150
September 18
Norton Commons Concert featuring The Monarch's
Benefits the Blessings program at Frayser Elementary
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A Game-Changing Donation to Help Hungry Kids!
Our last email shared that Bills Mafia (and other incredible football fans) raised $152,000 for the Blessings in a Backpack Louisville Chapter in honor of Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. We're delighted to share that our chapter will be feeding an additional 520 kids because of this incredible gift! That's 59,280 hunger-free weekends for all 520 kids for three years.
Thank you to Bills Mafia and all of you who donated in support of our mission. Our hearts and their bellies are full!
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The Bills fans who started the viral donation campaign Dan Konopski and Will Burke distributing Blessings food in Buffalo.
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Volunteer Spotlight:
Louisville Chapter Youth Board
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Thank you to the Louisville Chapter Youth Board for adopting the Blessings program at Wilkerson Elementary! The Board raised money to feed every child in the program by hosting their yearly USTA L3 Doubles Tennis Tournament. The Youth Advisory Board was formed in 2017 to engage high school students in philanthropic pursuits while learning about sustainable community involvement. If you know a high school student interested in joining the Youth Advisory Board, please contact Kim Holsclaw at kimholsclaw@blessingsinabackpack.org.
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Volunteer Spotlight:
Presentation Academy Students
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Thank you to the students at Presentation Academy, who have been volunteering after school to decorate cards with positive affirmations for Blessings kids! The cards are distributed on Fridays along with the weekend food.
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Watch: Engelhard Elementary students wish you a happy Derby week! Recorded May 2019.
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It's our favorite week of the year in Louisville, Derby week! While many of the events that benefit Blessings in a Backpack were canceled this year, you cannot cancel the Derby spirit. We wish everyone a wonderful Derby week and look forward to things getting back on track in 2022. (Pun intended!)
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In Memoriam: Kent Taylor
Our hearts go out to our friends at Texas Roadhouse over the recent loss of Kent Taylor. Kent was a humble, caring, and "legendary" man who generously supported our mission of ending childhood hunger on the weekends.
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Last week was Volunteer Appreciation Week, and we want to give a shout-out to our Advisory Board members. This group of dedicated volunteers donate countless hours of their time and talent to provide 217,626 hunger-free weekends to 5,727 food-insecure kids in Louisville. We can't thank you enough for all you do!
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Interested in becoming an event sponsor or corporate donor?
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Reflects giving from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021
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$5,000 – $9,999
IPA Reach For Kids
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$2,500 – $4,999
ADP
Churchill Downs
D'Amico Family Fund
Gayle Overstreet
IPA Foundation
Target Circle
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