Monthly Newsletter | January 2021
Fast Facts:

Volunteering can unite people of all ages and backgrounds while building stronger communities and, in our case, feeding kids this weekend!

This school year, Blessings in a Backpack has provided over 800,000 hunger-free weekends for kids across the country — and it's because of people like you. Let's keep growing and continue to prevent weekend hunger!⁣ Join our team by becoming a volunteer program coordinator. Learn more.
December Recap:

Because of you, there was plenty of good to be found in 2020! Last month, we surpassed our Giving Tuesday goal of $100,000 — raising more than $184,000 to feed kids nationwide.

We also met many inspiring educators, school staff, and volunteers working to better kids' lives (we like to call them #WarriorforKids). Be sure you're following us on Instagram and Facebook, as we will continue highlighting these stories all winter long.
Wheel Of Fortune:

Actress Chrissy Metz of "This Is Us" played "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" to support Blessings in a Backpack last week. While the wheel wasn't too kind (why are there so many "Bankrupt" panels on the wheel anyway?!), Chrissy won $30,000 to help provide 7,500 hunger-free weekends for kids nationwide.

If you missed the episode, you can find it streaming on Hulu, YouTube TV, and fuboTV.
Core News:
Photo: University of Louisville
In the wake of the Buffalo Bills victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Divisional Round on Jan. 16, Bills fans (a.k.a. Bills Mafia) rallied around injured Ravens QB and Blessings in a Backpack supporter Lamar Jackson. They began donating to Blessings in Jackson's honor.

Fun fact: "mafia" means "family," and while Buffalo may be best known for snow, Blessings in a Backpack now understands why it's known as the "City of Good Neighbors!"

What started as a tweet quickly snowballed into an avalanche of love and support for Blessings in a Backpack and the children we serve. In only one week, 17,300 people donated $483,000 to help provide 120,750 hunger-free weekends for kids in Louisville, Buffalo, Western New York, Baltimore, and beyond!
“It has been great to see these football fans from opposing teams join the same team to help our nonprofit,” said Erin Kerr, CEO of Blessings in a Backpack. “We cannot thank these fans enough. It’s truly helping so many kids across the U.S., and they are the real winners from this initiative."
Good Apples:
The Calipari Foundation donates $75,000 to Blessings in...

When the COVID-19 put a halt to the sports season in 2020, University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari found an impactful way to keep busy and give back to those in need. "Coffee with Cal" raised support for Blessings in a Backpack...

Read more
www.blessingsinabackpack.org
Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation hosts ninth annual Hope...

The Jim & Tabitha Furyk Foundation packed and delivered more than 5,000 bags of nonperishable food and holiday treats to families in need around the greater Jacksonville area during its 9th annual "Hope for the Holidays" event.

Read more
www.blessingsinabackpack.org
Thousands of pounds of fresh food delivered to families...

Since September, companies such as Sysco have distributed more than 91 million boxes of produce through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The Northwest Oregon Chapter is honored to be a part of the effort.

Read more
www.blessingsinabackpack.org
Thank You to Our Donors
Reflects giving from July 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2020:
$100,000 and Up
 $25,000 to $49,999 
The Albertsons Companies Foundation 
Allied Products Corporation 
Ausherman Family Foundation, Inc. 
Bobby Nichols Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation 
Brown and Caldwell 
The Community Foundation of Frederick County 
Community Foundation of Greater Rochester 
Farmers Insurance 
Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation 
Molex, LLC 
PGA TOUR Volunteer Appreciation Program sponsored by Myrbetriq 
Related Affordable Foundation 
United Way Of Northeast Florida 
Vera Bradley

$15,000 to $24,999 
The Amit J & Vicky L Patel Foundation 
BKD Foundation 
Clark Family Foundation, Inc. 
CME Group 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
The City of Frederick 
General Motors Foundation 
Gresham Grocery Outlet 
Latin Women's Initiative 
Melitta S. and Joan M. Pick Charitable Trust 
PGA TOUR, Inc. 
St John's Grocery Outlet 
Walmart Foundation 
William H. Donner Foundation, Inc.

$10,000 to $14,999 
Anonymous 
Arby's Foundation 
Blessings in a Backpack Fort Wayne 
Cahill Homes 
Covenant United Methodist Church 
Craig and Mary Schiefelbein Foundation 
James Gorman 
The Martin Andersen-Gracia Andersen Foundation, Inc. 
Monsanto (Bayer) Fund 
Name Bubbles 
Steven Pack 
Percent Pledge 
Rodar LLC 
Texas Capital Bank 
UPS-Jacksonville Employees