Bank Donates $25,000 for School Supplies for Phila. Kids

It may seem way too early to be talking about school supplies, but a local nonprofit group is spending the summer gathering them together so they can give them away to Philadelphia public school students.

KYW's Pat Loeb reports the effort got a major boost today.

"Cradles to Crayons" provides supplies of all kinds to families in need. The nonprofit normally accepts donations of gently used equipment, but executive director Kelly Clark says for the back-to-school backpack giveaway that takes place next month, she's more particular:

"It builds pride and integrity to get something brand new. You don't want a used pencil or notebook. We don't believe in that, so we really are very passionate about giving high quality."

Clark (second from left in photo) says that's why $25,000 donated by Citizens Bank is so important to the effort.

Citizens Bank mid-Atlantic president Dan Fitzpatrick (far right) says it's also a way for the bank to triple the reach of its own "Gear for Grades" project:

"For us, reaching ten thousand students is a tremendous expansion of what we've traditionally done."

Each backpack will have a tag made by volunteers -- like 11-year-old Clare, from Glenside, Pa.:

"Because it's fun to help."
(Photo  by KYW's Pat Loeb)