On Thursday, Aug. 19, Office Depot, in partnership with Broward Education Foundation, distributed 1,000 brand-new backpacks to students at Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School, a Title I school in the heart of Broward County. During the Start Proud® event, students received brand new backpacks filled with school supplies to help them feel confident, prepared and proud as they embark on a new school year.
Each backpack was jammed with school supplies, including notebooks, composition books, notecards, highlighters, pens, pencils, glue sticks, and also included one $20 Office Depot® OfficeMax® merchandise card for parents to purchase additional supplies for their child throughout the school year.
In addition, Marie Naizen was recognized as an “All-Star Teacher” for her extraordinary efforts in the classroom at Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School teacher and beyond. Ms. Naizen was presented with nearly $2,000 worth of premium school supplies and office furniture, courtesy of Office Depot and the company’s annual Start Proud! program.
On hand to help safely distribute the nearly 1,000 backpacks and welcome students to a productive new school year were Broward County Public Schools Board Members Sarah Leonardi and Donna Korn, Broward Education Foundation Board Chair Tim Curtin, Treasurer Dustin Jacobs, Secretary Myriam Goldman and Board Member Sue Colton; Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School Principal Melissa Holtz and Assistant Principal Dr. David Martin; Fort Lauderdale High Assistant Principal Karleen Thompson and Football Coach Martin with Flying L football players, cheerleaders and mascot along with teachers and staff and a contingent of Office Depot employees.
“We are so thankful for the continued generous support and the amazing partnership we’ve forged with Office Depot,” said Shea Ciriago, executive director of Broward Education Foundation. “It’s an honor to be able to provide students throughout Broward County with the educational supplies and learning tools necessary to help them learn and thrive.”