Students at James Otis Elementary School Receive Backpacks, School Supplies from Comcast

As part of a partnership between Kids In Need Foundation and Comcast, over 500 students from the James Otis Elementary School in East Boston received free backpacks filled with school supplies during the first full week of school.

Last week the Comcast Spotlight team visited the Otis School and handedout backpacks with notebooks, folders, glue sticks, pencils, crayons, scissors and more.

“We are so appreciative and thankful to  Comcast Spotlight company and the Kids in Need Foundation for completely supplying over 400 of our Otis students with backpacks filled with all essential school supplies like crayons, notebooks, writing utensils and folders,” said Otis Principal Paula Goncalves. “It was an amazing launch to the school year with over 200 families attending the event and also getting to meet their new teachers for this year.”

The partnership was part of Comcast Spotlight, the advertising sales division of the cable company, and Kids In Need Kids In Need, a nonprofit that provides free school supplies, efforts to donate classroom essentials to more than 2,600 children across the country.

“Comcast Spotlight’s nationwide effort with the Kids In Need Foundation is one example of how we are committed to improving our communities,” said Comcast Spotlight Regional Marketing Director Erica Lane, “Every child deserves a chance at a bright future. Now 2,600 children will be able to start the school year with resources to help them achieve.”

The event last week at the Otis coincided with similar events run by Comcast and Kids in Need in Baltimore, Denver, East Orange, New Jersey and Stockton, California.

“When students have the school supplies they need, our surveys show that class participation, self- esteem and interest in learning increases,” said Renay Dossman, executive director, Kids In Need Foundation. “We want to say thank you to Comcast Spotlight for providing backpacks filled with supplies to so many kids this back-to-school season. Because of Comcast Spotlight, more students will walk into a more equitable learning environment this year.”

Comcast Spotlight Regional Vice President Stephen Flaim added that it is important for every child to have access to school supplies, as these resources are a vital part of learning and succeeding now and in the future.

“Comcast Spotlight is committed to making a positive impact in the markets we serve, including Boston, and we are excited to work with the Kids In Need Foundation to equip more than 500 students from James Otis Elementary School with the tools to start school prepared,” he said.

Kids In Need’s mission is to ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed in the classroom by providing free school supplies nationally to students in low-income neighborhoods like Eastie.

Founded in 1995 Kids in Need has distributed $1 billion in school supplies, directly benefiting 6.2 million students and 200,000 teachers annually.

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