Dear Friend:

There are six weeks more of the summer season and won’t September look good after all of these scorching days. Of course with the end of summer comes the beginning of another school year. The first day of school is always an exciting day, a day that often sets the tone on a year of adventure and education. But imagine if you were one of the nearly 10,000 children in our region living in homeless shelters – to those kids, the first day of school can be a difficult and frustrating experience.

Education is an essential building block for a successful life and Stuff the Bus is one of many elements in our education strategy. So for the fourth consecutive year, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania is asking the community to Stuff the Bus for homeless kids. Here is an opportunity to help make a difference for children living in shelters by providing them with backpacks filled with school supplies for the first day of school.

The issue of homeless children is a real and growing issue. Did you know that:

• Half of all homeless children attended three different schools in one year
• Three-quarters of homeless children perform below grade level in reading.
• Many of the school aged homeless children in our region are frequently late for school

United Way is spending the summer raising money and collecting school supplies with a goal to provide as many of these kids as possible with a new backpack stuffed with school supplies. Stuff the Bus is just one way that we can help these kids find a way to rise above their situation while giving them an opportunity to succeed. Last year we stuffed close to 3,000 backpacks and this year our goal, with your help, is to increase that number to 5,000 backpacks for children living in shelters in our four county service area.

So how can you get help to Stuff the Bus? It’s easy! You can drop off school supplies at our United Way office in Philadelphia, hold a Stuff the Bus collection drive at your place of business (we’ll even pick-up the supplies for you), become a corporate sponsor or go online and purchase a backpack full of school supplies with a $25 donation. You can even help by spreading the word to family and friends by asking them to text PHILLYSB to UNITED (864833) to make a donation. Every little bit helps! We will be accepting donations and supplies through Friday August 20. For more information on how to get involved as well as to view our Stuff the Bus music video, please visit LIVEUNITEDsepa.org/stuffthebus.

I also want to thank this year’s Stuff the Bus co-chairs, Christopher L. Bruner, Ernst & Young LLP and Jerry Jordan, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Local 3 as well as some of our partners and sponsors who have stepped up to help United Way Stuff the Bus.

• ACE Group (Presenting Sponsor)
• Ernst and Young LLP
• Tyco Electronics
• Independence Blue Cross
• Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO
• Laborers International Union Local 332

Thanks to everyone for their commitment to Stuff the Bus and to providing a better educational experience for homeless children in our region.

Stay cool and enjoy your summer!

Sincerely,

Jill M. Michal
President and CEO