For the past 24 years, School is Cool has been helping less-fortunate kids in the Poudre School District start off the school year on equal footing with their peers.
The CSU-based program provides new backpacks filled with high-quality, grade-specific supplies (pens, pencils, markers, paper, scissors, glue sticks, rulers, etc.) to more than 2,500 kids every year. Each August, in the days leading up to the start of the school year, more than 200 volunteers gather to sort and stuff supplies into backpacks for elementary, middle and high schools in PSD.
School is Cool is celebrating its 25th year by partnering with other community organizations in an effort to ensure that all students receive school supplies this year.
To date, more than 37,000 kids have benefitted from School is Cool. Not bad for a program created by CSU employees, who managed to put together 62 backpacks in the summer of 1991 for deserving kids. The award-winning program has seen tremendous growth over the years – thanks in large part to the generosity of CSU employees.
All of the funding that first year was provided by CSU employees, and 25 years later they still provide the majority of the money needed to fill the ever-expanding needs of PSD schools. The CSU Bookstore, the Bohemian Foundation and CostCo now partner with School is Cool to serve even more kids.
“I love supporting our kids in the Poudre School District through this amazing program,” said Kristi Bohlender, executive director of the CSU Alumni Association. “School is Cool is such a great program, and I’ve always been proud to join other CSU faculty, staff and alumni in supporting it.”
Join the celebration
Donations are now being accepted for the 25th anniversary campaign; $25 sponsors one backpack. CSU employees can donate in a variety of ways, including payroll deduction.
You can still lend a hand even if you can’t can afford a monetary donation. Volunteers are needed Aug. 8-11 for a variety of tasks, including organizing and sorting supplies, stuffing backpacks and delivering them to schools.
“School is Cool is a grass-roots program that truly defines who we are as a University,” said Tom Milligan, CSU’s vice president for external relations. “Our faculty, staff and students provide much of the funding and sheer muscle to make this program successful – a testament to our commitment to education at all levels.”
