Boys & Girls Clubs of America Prepares Youth for Back to School Season with 'Stuff the Bus' Challenge

Comcast kicks off the effort in Philadelphia with local school supplies drive

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Sep 09, 2016, 01:00 ET

PHILADELPHIA and ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Youth nationwide are heading back to school this month, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America is determined to help kids and teens start off the academic year equipped with the tools and resources they need to succeed. As part of the youth organization's Back2School™ campaign, they launched the 'Stuff the Bus' challenge to encourage corporate partners to donate school supplies for the kids who need them most.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Comcast volunteers help Stuff the Bus during the organization's Back2School event.

Youth from Boys & Girls Clubs in Philadelphia receive back to school supplies, thanks to Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Back2School Stuff the Bus campaign.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Comcast employees and local Philadelphians gathered in front of Comcast Center to kick off the effort. Volunteers filled a new Back2School branded van with school supplies for local Philadelphia Boys & Girls Clubs.

"We know that today's youth are the key to our nation's success, and these formative grade school years are the launch pad for kids and teens to thrive. We're proud to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America on national technology and digital literacy initiatives, and we're equally thrilled to make an impact here in our company's hometown of Philadelphia as our local Boys & Girls Club members prepare for the academic year," said Fred Maahs, Senior Director of National Partnerships for Comcast Corporation and Vice President, Comcast Foundation.

The van parked in front of Comcast Center was filled to the brim with donated items from Comcast, its employees and other area contributors. Volunteers at the Stuff the Bus event also collected financial donations for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America will donate the 12-passenger van to one winning Club participating in its national Stuff the Bus contest. The winning Club will additionally receive prizes for up to 200 members from other Back2School corporate partners, including:

Burlington: New backpacks
Crayola: Art with Edge Coloring Books, colored pencils and fine line markers
Family Dollar: Gift cards
Fiskars: Scissors, rulers and pencil/crayon sharpeners
Gold Toe: Socks for boys and girls
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores®: $3,000 in gift cards
Lenovo: Tech Center upgrade for winning Club
Pilot: Black pens
ViSalus: Healthy snacks

"The back-to-school season is essential to lay the foundation for a successful year ahead," said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Thanks to the support of our partners and 4,200 Clubs, we can help the kids who need us most by outfitting them with important school supplies and offering a safe place to study and play when the school day ends."

Throughout the Back2School campaign these partners are supporting Club kids by donating school supplies, galvanizing their employees to volunteer with local Clubs and engaging the public to participate in the cause campaign.

The Back2School campaign aligns with Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Great Futures Campaign, which calls attention to the crisis facing kids and elevates the role of out-of-school time in reversing negative trends in the areas of poor academic performance, obesity, drug use, and youth-related violence. The Great Futures Campaign for America's kids is mobilizing the nation in support of after-school and summer programs that tackle these issues to inspire and empower more youth toward success.

For more information about ways to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Back2School campaign, visit greatfutures.org.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (greatfutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at BGCA's Facebook and Twitter.

About the Comcast Foundation
The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities—promoting service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow's leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $170 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community.

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SOURCE Boys & Girls Clubs of America