Due to High Demand 'Phoenix Tools 4 School' Moves to South Mountain Community College
The HeroZona Foundation and American Legion Post 65 to Host Drive-Thru Backpack Drive
PHOENIX, July 21, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Arizona's largest backpack and school supply giveaway event, Phoenix Tools 4 School, is moving locations. Due to high demand, the backpack drive has been moved to South Mountain Community College (7050 S. 24th St.) on Saturday, July 25, from 7 to 10 a.m.
The event is an effort between the HeroZona Foundation and the Travis L. Williams Post American Legion 65 to support local families with the cost of their kids returning to school and to ensure the health and safety of volunteers, community members, students and their families, this year's backpack drive will be adhering to COVID-19 CDC guidelines. This means the Tools 4 School backpack drive will now be a drive thru event and families will be asked to stay in their car while receiving supplies.
"This year has been especially tough on students and their families given the impact of COVID-19," says U.S. Army Desert Storm Veteran and Co-Founder of the HeroZona Foundation, Alan "AP" Powell. "Through providing basic school readiness supplies for students whose families cannot afford any or all the necessary items to start off the school year, we hope to alleviate some of their financial burden."
In just seven years, the Phoenix Tools 4 School annual event has impacted over 50,000 students and family members by providing them with supplies needed for their education, such as book bags, notebooks, writing utensils and more. Pre-coronavirus, the Tools 4 School event has also hosted a carnival and workshops from Maricopa Community Colleges and Arizona State University for 7th and 8th grade students to prepare them on their path to higher education. For families interested in learning more about K-12 resources from the university, they can visit eoss.asu.edu/access, which includes virtual workshops, career quizzes and financial aid support.
The event on July 25 is free and open to the public and is expected to draw thousands of families. Tools 4 School is open to all students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade. Supplies are limited, and backpacks will be distributed on a first come first served while supplies last. People can preregister at Herozona.org. Attendees are encouraged to show up early and students must be present to receive their backpack and supplies.
This year's event is supported by partners such as APS, UPS, Phoenix Suns, and Crescent Crown Distributing. Community supporters include SRP, ASU, Roosevelt School District #66, Southwest Airlines, EPCOR, 101.1 The Beat, Mega 104.3, 101.9 Campesina and Dollar Days.
For more information about Phoenix Tools 4 School on July 25, visit herozona.org.
About HeroZona Foundation
The mission of HeroZona Foundation is to create and empower Heroes in Phoenix communities. The HeroZona Foundation Awards, which honors companies and individuals supporting veteran initiatives in fields such as entrepreneurship, education and employment, will return to the Valley on May 15, 2021, on Armed Forces Day. Notable past recipients include Jerry Moyes, CEO of Swift Transportation, Johnny Clayton Taylor, Jr, CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, and Dr. Michael M. Crow, President of Arizona State University. Other programs include the Bridge Forum, Phoenix Tools 4 School, Play it Forward, a performing arts program for students, and Veterans Reach to Teach. For more information, visit herozona.org
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SOURCE HeroZona
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