Phila. Kids Get Backpacks in Back-to-School Giveaway

Hundreds of volunteers and school students gathered today at the Philadelphia Zoo for the largest ever backpack-a-thon in Philadelphia.

KYW's Karin Phillips reports from the zoo that mayor Michael Nutter gave away some of the first backpacks put together by the effort.

He also led a pep rally of sorts to encourage the kids to stay in school:

(Nutter:)  "You get through elementary school, you get through high school, and after high school where are you going?"

(Crowd responds:)   "College!"

(Nutter:)  "Ah, I love the sound of that!  Say it one more time!  After high school you're going to...?"

(Crowd responds, louder:)   "College!"

(Nutter:)  "Ahh, you're making my day here."

Volunteers from the mayor's office, Citizens Back, and Cradles to Crayons stuffed a record 10,000 backpacks.  Anre Moore is director of public affairs for Citizens Bank:

"There's a lot of need around Philadelphia, but particularly to get kids to a point where they can start school and keep going, because education is the key to a lot of things in life."

(Photos by KYW's Karin Phillips)