LEAAD-Sponsored Annual Back to School Drive Delivers with 1,600 Pounds of Supplies

DFW employees contributed more than 1,600 pounds of school supplies to the Annual Back to School Drive, nearly double the amount collected last year. DFW's employee resource group Leading Excellence in Asian-American Development (LEAAD) sponsored this year's event.

Colorful backpacks, scissors, erasers, binders, notebooks and highlighters filled boxes destined for children in need. Recipients for the school drive are Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Multi-Ethnic Education and Economic Development Center (MEED).

Cayce Mattison, program director for the MEED Center, thanked DFW employees for their generous support and said the supplies would go to the Organization of Bhutanese Society, DFW. The organization is currently serving thousands of Bhutanese refugees in Fort Worth.

"These supplies will be used to help about 300 refugee children from elementary school to college," said Mattison. “The children have virtually nothing and the supplies will help to prepare them for the school year." Big Brothers Big Sisters program training and events specialist Beth Keller said children enrolled in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and their siblings would receive a backpack of school supplies corresponding to their grade level.

"This year With the support of the generous DFW employees over 600 children will receive backpacks full of supplies to begin the new school year," said Keller. “The families of each student are truly grateful."

Employee Resource Groups Joint Mission Continues to Serve Surrounding Communities

DFW's ERGs lead the annual school supply drive on a rotating basis. Other Airport ERGs supporting this year's effort include Women's Initiative Network (WIN), African-Americans Collaborating Toward Conclusion Outreach Networking (AACTION) and Hispanic Outreach by Leaders in Action (HOLA).

Padma Joshi, ITS project leader and current LEAAD President, thanked the ERG's.

"This was a great demonstration of teamwork and collaboration for a very worthy cause," said Joshi.