This year, for our Annual Back to School Celebration on August 20, 2024 we returned to Dunkin’ Park for family-friendly activities, resource sharing, music, food and fun. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our partners and sponsors, we were able to give away more than 5,000 backpacks filled with school supplies.
A student high-fives a Blue Hills Civic Association staff-member after he wins the chess game!
It was so nice to see our students’ smiling faces after the summer break and have a chance to reconnect with our families. Students could meet with our schools, the HPS Welcome Center and Board of Education, and community partners like the Village, Goodwill, Blue Hills Civic Association (where they' played chess!), and so many more.
They could pick out free books and supplies, and they could have their medical and vaccinations records checked by our Health Services. Then they could grab a delicious lunch and head off to the fun zone for animal balloons, glitter tattoos, face painting, and henna.
After the fun zone, they could pick our backpacks, all stocked with school supplies and ready for Day 1! Upon leaving our families were treated to free ice cream! What a beautiful day!
Hartford Youth Services volunteers were on hand to help distribute over 5,000 backpacks
Special thanks to all our event sponsors, who include:
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving,
The City of Hartford
United Way of Northeastern and Central Connecticut
Autumn Transportation
Hartford Parking Authority
The Village for Families & Children
Goodwill of Northern and Western Connecticut
Trantolo and Trantolo
Electrical Contractors Incorporated
RCN Capital
Women’s Health Connecticut
Travelers
Ticket Network
Empower
Glastonbury River Runners
XL Center
Talcott
AXA
Vertafore
Barings
and Franklin Trust
Congratulations to our Office of Strategic Partnerships & Fund Development who managed this brilliant event! There will be many more opportunities for family engagement this year, so keep an eye on ParentSquare and our website for upcoming events!