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Operation Backpack thrived in 2008 in ways it never had before. When Volunteers Of America first started this campaign five years ago it had 20 corporations contributing. Last year the list of contributing companies was close to 90 -- some sponsoring with a financial donation and some holding their own school supply drives at their offices.
The list of corporate donors is very impressive -- Frank Crystal & Company and Warnaco donated good ol' fashioned cash. And even Home Depot got in on the act -- my peeps, gotta love 'em. We also had in-kind donations that were the backbone of our efforts. Van Wagner donated the phone kiosks for advertising. Last year’s campaign posters featured the Mets for the fourth year in a row. We also had the cast of Broadway’s Spring Awakening get into the act, and I got Trading Spaces designer, Doug Wilson to pose with me.
Time Warner donated 300 hours of airtime for the PSA (which was shot and produced by the generous Arthur Smith & CO. -- the production company that produces Trading Spaces for TLC). Fed Ex donated their trucks and drivers to collect all the empty backpacks and school supplies from the corporations that held drives over the previous four weeks. The supplies were brought to an empty real-estate lot that was our sorting location. The space was generously donated to us by Richard Farley of RFR Realty. It was in that space that "Sort Week" ensued. Volunteers from the different companies showed up to help organize and fill the backpacks. It was a mighty job. All backpacks had to be filled with the appropriate supplies for each particular grade. It is not one size fits all. The backpacks are actually labeled according to grade level so an 11th grade student doesn't end up with a 5th grader’s supplies or vice versa. It's a very tangible charity to be a part of because you know that every single backpack you touch is going to a child. Seeing the mounds of filled backpacks is thrilling and sad all at the time. Even in the mayhem of busy volunteers and backpacks there were still moments that made me pause. Time Warner employees practically floored us when they announced that Time Warner had decided to match their individual cash contributions. What a surprise to receive that extra check! And seeing the number of young kids that helped out was fantastic. We hope that their participation in Operation Backpack is the beginning of a lifetime dedicated to philanthropy.
Last year marked an increase in media attention as well. NY1 did two LIVE hits in the morning and then ran the story all day. I was a guest on the CW Morning Show, and Rachel Weinstein (OB Director and my close friend) joined me on "Happy Hour" on FoxBN. Photographers from the Associated Press came to the sort space, as did Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President, and my dear friend Leon Hall, of red carpet fame. The culminating cap to our fabulous sort week was being invited to ring the closing bell at the NYSE. Wow! It was delightful to be recognized and honored in that way. And let's face it . . . it was just cool.
All in all a smash success. I am so proud to donate my efforts to this worthy cause. |
