Office Depot "Backs" RCA Once Again

Office Depot “Backs” RCA Once Again

Ron Clark Academy students, along with thousands of others, were equipped with backpacks this fall, thanks to a generous gift from the Office Depot Foundation - the independent foundation serving as the primary charitable giving arm of Office Depot.  The foundation donated more than 3,600 backpacks to deserving children in Atlanta to help them prepare for school.   RCA’s Director of Development, Mehari Kassa, was on hand to accept the generous donation during a special “Backpack Donation Day” event held at a downtown Office Depot store on Monday, August 11^th.  Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Congressman John Lewis participated in the presentation ceremonies.  State Representative Sharon Beasley-Teague; Rene Pennington, Vice President of Atlanta Education, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; and Mariama Tyler, Director of External Affairs for Atlanta Public Schools, were other community leaders in attendance. These donations were among a total of 300,000 backpacks provided to scores of non-profit organizations and schools across the U.S. and Canada through the 2008 Office Depot Foundation National Backpack Program.  In the eight years of this program, Office Depot has donated nearly 1.8 million backpacks.  This was RCA’s second year to receive supplies. Other Atlanta recipients  included: Allen Rossum’s Healthy Kids Klub, CaringWorks, Inc., CHRIS Kids, Inc., City of Refuge, Communities In Schools of Atlanta, Easter Seals Child Development CenterGenesis Prevention Coalition, Inc., Helping Hands Foundation, Kids In Need Foundation, National Foundation for Women Legislators, Safehouse Outreach, Walter F. White Elementary School, and Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence.  Thanks Office Depot Foundation – We truly appreciate your continued support and generosity!