Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano was recently joined at Paideia School 24 by Superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada, the Yonkers City Council, Paideia School 24 Principal Kim Davis, Board of Education trustees and event sponsors to distribute more than 400 backpacks filled with school supplies to Paideia School 24 students as part of the mayor’s annual Backpack to School Drive.
Through donations from Yonkers residents and city employees, along with local corporate and nonprofit sponsors including Precision Concierge New York, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, Heavenly Productions Foundation, Elite Investigations LTD, Ridge Hill, Rock & Rod’s Collector Car Club, Castle Royale and Macaroni Kid-Yonkers. Spano’s annual donation drive has distributed backpacks and school supplies to nearly 7,500 public school students in the City of Yonkers over the past eight years.
“The continued success of our Backpack to School Drive speaks volumes to the strength of our community,” said Spano. “This year alone we collected over 1,500 backpacks and over 5,000 supplies. I want to thank our sponsors, along with all of the residents and businesses for donating supplies at our drop-off locations throughout the city. This drive is successful because of your support.”
Quezada added: “When the community demonstrates a commitment to education, our children are the beneficiaries. Thank you to the individual community members and businesses who opened their hearts to help our students and families prepare for school. Also to Mayor Spano for his consistent support for quality education and the well-being of Yonkers children.”
According to the National Retail Federation, families in the U.S. will spend more than $29 billion on backpacks and school supplies this time of the year.
