Broward Education Foundation and Office Depot teamed up for the Start Proud! event where they distributed nearly 1,000 brand-new backpacks filled with supplies to Davie Elementary School students on Monday, Aug. 17.

(L-R): Sue Colton, Ruth Carter-Lynch, Tim Curtin, Richelle Kubsch, Donna Korn, Alex Price, Robert Runcie, Shea Ciriago, Laurie Rich Levinson, Erik Anderson, Christine Kelly and Ken King

Each backpack was filled with school supplies, including notebooks, composition books, notecards, highlighters, pens, pencils and also included one Office Depot® OfficeMax® merchandise card for parents to purchase additional supplies for their child throughout the school year.

Ruth Carter-Lynch, Broward Education board member, Shea Ciriago, Executive Director, Broward Education Foundation, Alex Price, Director of Community Investment, Office Depot and Malcom Gibson, Executive Secretary, School Board Member and Laurie Rich Levinson, School Board Member, Broward County Public Schools

On hand to help safely distribute the nearly 1,000 backpacks and welcome students to a productive new school year were Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, Chief School Performance & Account Officer Dr. Valerie Smith Wanza, School Board Members Donna Korn and Laurie Rich Levinson, Broward Education Foundation Board Chair Tim Curtin and Foundation Board Members Sue Colton and Ruth Carter-Lynch, Davie Elementary School Principal Erik Anderson with teachers and staff from Davie Elementary and a contingent of Office Depot employees.

Robert Runcie, Broward County Public Schools Superintendent

“We are incredibly thankful for the generous support and the amazing partnership we’ve forged with Office Depot,” said Shea Ciriago, executive director of Broward Education Foundation. “Although the start of the school is virtual, students throughout Broward County now have the educational supplies and learning tools necessary to learn and thrive.”

Richelle Kubsch, Coordinator of Community Investment, Office Depot and Alex Price Director of Community Investment for Office Depot

Davie Elementary School teacher Kelly De Varona was recognized as an “All-Star Teacher” and presented with new furniture, teaching supplies, technology and tech services from Office Depot, valued at more than $1,500.

Kelly De Varona, All-Star teacher and Erik Anderson, Principal of Davie Elementary School

About Broward Education Foundation 

Broward Education Foundation is the only 501(c)3 charitable organization solely dedicated to supporting Broward County Public Schools and serves as a catalyst for educational excellence by providing teacher grants to fund development of innovative curriculum that advances Pre K-12 achievement; vitally needed school supplies for Title I school students, and scholarships for qualified high school seniors. Established in 1983, the non-profit Broward Education Foundation contributes more than $3 million to Broward County Public Schools annually. In 2018, responding to the Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy, Broward Education Foundation initiated a GoFundMe campaign, established the official Stoneman Douglas Victims’ Fund and raised $10.5M for victims’ families, survivors and those impacted. Broward Education Foundation is proven agile, adept and responsive to shifting needs in education and our community. For more information visit browardedfoundation.org, email BEFInfo@browardschools.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Davie Elementary School teacher safely delivering backpacks to students at the Start Proud! drive-through

Vevienne Ebanks; Whitney Kidd; Richelle Kubsch; Alex Price and Lynn Hamilton from Office Depot