Chicago, IL -(Effingham Radio)- Non-Profit Kicks Off Statewide Program to Engage Residents Under Stay-at-Home Order & Improve Underserved Students’ Academic Performance & Self Esteem
Back 2 School Illinois (B2SI), a nonprofit organization that provides tens of thousands of deserving kids from low-income families with free school supplies to help them succeed in the classroom, is pleased to announce the launch of its Notes of Inspiration initiative. The statewide program is designed to boost underserved students’ self esteem by providing notes of encouragement in each Back 2 School kit to inspire and engage recipients.
Back 2 School Illinois is launching the initiative amidst the Coronavirus epidemic, in an effort to engage Illinois residents in a positive, community-building activity that offers them a creative outlet while also encouraging underserved students to achieve, both inside and outside of the classroom.
To participate, folks should visit https://b2si.org/notes-of-inspiration and fill out the online Notes of Inspiration form, which asks for their contact information and the number of note cards they’d like to receive in the mail (ranging from 10 -30). After doing so, they’ll receive a package from Back 2 School Illinois within a week that includes: blank note cards, instructions, an outer mailing envelope (9” x 12”), inner return envelope, return mailing label and a donation envelope (for folks who want to make a donation).
Whether you’re a parent, community leader, concerned citizen, student (16 years of age or older) or faculty member, you can participate in the Notes of Inspiration program. The goal is to make sure that every students that receives a kit will also receive the Notes of Inspiration in Back 2 School kits to further boost their self-esteem.
“There are over 1.2 million students in Illinois living in low income households. Last year alone, B2SI provided more than 1 million school supplies to these students,” says Back 2 School Illinois CEO, Matthew Kurtzman, “The Notes of Inspiration program will provide students with notes of encouragement in their school supply kits, alongside the supplies they need, so that they can come to school motivated and prepared.”
Back 2 School Illinois encourages participants to be as creative as possible when writing the notes, and to also try to personalize them for the students.
“We suggest that you to sign or print your first name at the bottom of the note, and to be as colorful as you want with the note. Use stickers, crayons or markers, if the spirit moves you. Your notes can be as simple or complex as you wish,” said Back 2 School Illinois CEO, Matthew Kurtzman. “Once your notes are written, place them in the return envelope that we’ve provided, and send them back to us, at your convenience.”
Participants who’d like to help out even more should consider making a donation using the enclosed envelope or by donating online at www.b2si.org.
While B2SI wants to encourage participants’ creativity, below are examples of some simple messages folks can write on the notes:
- “I hope you love your new school supplies and have a great year in school”
- “Remember to work hard and always do your homework but also remember to meet new people, have fun and learn”
- “There are no limits to what you can learn. I hope these school supplies help you achieve success both in and out of the classroom”
- “Make the most of your time in school. Do your homework, join a club, play sports, and make lots of friends”
About Back 2 School Illinois (B2SI)
The Back 2 School program was launched in 2007 by the Community Currency Exchange Association of Illinois to address the pressing needs of communities and the inequities in educational opportunities for children. In 2015 the nonprofit changed its’ name to Back 2 School Illinois to reflect the work of the organization.
Today, B2SI is the largest free school supplies program in the state, serving children of low-income households and lessening the financial burden for their families. The Back 2 School program has provided more than 260,000 children with their own school supply kit since its inception. The organization’s long-term goal is to provide the more than one million Illinois children from low-income families each year with the school supplies they need to succeed in the classroom.
In the summer of 2018, B2SI launched Back 2 School America, which is aimed at providing Back 2 School kits to children across the USA.
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