Philadelphia, U.S.A. – As most people turn their thoughts to summer vacation, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and Cradles to Crayons are joining together to provide school supplies for  the upcoming school year to low-income and homeless families throughout the region. The two organizations are partnering on the 2012 Backpack-A-Thon, to fill and distribute 20,000 backpacks. The backpacks will be distributed through more than 350 social service agencies that in turn will give the backpacks to children in need, giving them resources needed to have a successful start to the school year. United Way and Cradles to Crayons will bring together more than 400 community and corporate volunteers this summer to prepare the backpacks at an event hosted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

The largest one-day back-to-school event in the region, the 2012 Backpack-A-Thon seeks to help kids start the school year off right. As the poorest of the nation’s ten largest cities, Philadelphia’s child poverty rate is the highest it’s been in 50 years. As a result, parents from economically-challenged backgrounds often find it difficult to provide their children with the most basic of needs, including school supplies. Statistics show that children from low-income communities start first grade up to two years behind their peers from moderate- to upper-income households. Allowing those children to have the tools they need to start off right – from quality early childhood education to school supplies – are just a few of the way that United Way’s Community Impact fund is put to work for our children.

United Way and Cradles to Crayons came together for the first time in 2011. Jill Michal, president and CEO of United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, said the partnership allows the two organizations to have a greater impact than if they did this alone.
“We’re thrilled to be able to partner with such a great organization in Cradles to Crayons – we both know that we can accomplish much more together than we can alone,” Michal said.”We know that if a child can go to school on the first day equipped with the basic tools he or she needs to learn, that child is one step closer to having a positive and productive academic experience. And kids really want what we all want – to fit in and feel secure. Starting off the school year with new pencils and notebooks like every other child is one more way to help them at least start on a level playing field.”

Michal Smith, executive director of Cradles to Crayons, agreed, adding that the collaboration will ultimately benefit children and their families.

“For years, we’ve done this work with great results, but by partnering with United Way, we’re able to reach more children with the supplies they need and through our Ready For School program, keep them filled throughout the school year.”

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There have been two rampages at educational facilities in Ohio within weeks of one another. A few weeks after the shooting at Chardon High School that left three students dead, there has been a stabbing incident at another educational facility in Columbus, Ohio. John Mallet, a 37-year-old man, stabbed four people at the Continental Centre.

The building houses a restaurant, offices of the Ohio Attorney General and a trade school, the Miami-Jacobs Career College. Mallet entered the downtown building through the admissions office, according to the local police authorities, armed with three knives that he had retrieved from his aunt’s kitchen.

Ronald Mallet, the father of the attacker who resides in New York City, said that he believes his son is schizophrenic and went off the deep end when John’s aunt asked him to move out of her Columbus home where he had only been living for a month.

John Mallet stabbed four people before being tasered and then shot by police officer, Deborah Ayers. Ayers has served as an officer for the Columbus Division of Police for fifteen years. Three of the victims were attacked inside the college while the last victim was caught outside before Ayers was able to stop Mallet.

The four victims have been identified as Gerald Dowe Jr., an employee of the college, Donte Dunnegan and John Desir, both students at the career college and the Ohio Assistant Attorney General, Jeff Maloon. Dowe was released from the hospital last week while Desir is currently in a stable condition as Dunnegan and Maloon remain in critical condition. Meanwhile, Mallet is in critical condition at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Mallet is currently facing four counts of felonious assault.

Several students ran into hiding while others witnessed the attack, including Miami-Jacobs student Renee Foster. Foster stated, “from the time he walked in, all the way to the time he walked out, he came out and started stabbing random people. He stabbed a guy right next to me.”

Stephen Gammill, Police Chief for the Columbus Division, made a statement to the press about Ayer’s actions. “There’s no other term for Officer Ayer’s actions other than heroic.”

Meanwhile, just north of this tragedy, the community of Chardon is continuing to raise money for the Chardon Healing Fund. After the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of three students and critically wounded two others, the Chardon Healing Fund has raised nearly $600,000.00 since the February 27th attack.

The Chardon Healing Fund and the Chardon Angels of Hope were soon formed after the shooting, and a majority of donations has come from the United Way in Geauga County. One member of the board overseeing the funds hopes to raise another $250,000.00 but points out that, “the community not only opened its hearts but also its wallets.”

Hopefully, the Miami-Jacobs Career College and the loved ones of the victims involved in the Columbus stabbing will come together and mimic how Chardon has coped with the tragedy, not just with their wallets, but also their hearts.

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In his most intimate performances in years, Shawn “Jay Z” Carter will headline the first ever hip-hop focused series at Carnegie Hall, in the Stern Auditorium, raising millions for the United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation on February 6, 2012 at 8:00pm and February 7, 2012 at 9:30pm.

Concert goers will get a once in a lifetime experience as Jay Z takes the stage at the New York landmark to raise dollars that will help boost on-time graduation rates in underserved New York City schools and put college within reach for low-income students across the five boroughs.

“It’s every artist’s dream to play a venue as legendary as Carnegie Hall,” commented Jay Z. “The fact that I can use the arts and my talent to benefit the education of the next generation of artists, entrepreneurs, and great thinkers makes for a legendary night. I’m proud to be a part of the continuing work of United Way of New York City and expanding the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.”

Poverty has the strongest correlation to dropout rates. New York City has the largest income gap in the U.S., and thirty percent of children in New York City live in poverty. Because of statistics like these, coupled with the fact that thirty-nine percent of New York City students who enter high school will not graduate on time, United Way of New York City, The Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation and Shawn Carter are engaging activists and philanthropists to provide resources and opportunities for students.

“United Way is dedicated to helping low-income New Yorkers build better lives, and we know that the greatest antidote to poverty is education,” said Gordon J. Campbell, CEO, United Way of New York City. “For more than 20 years, we have been active in early childhood centers and public schools, working with educators, families and students to address barriers to success inside and outside the classroom. We are so pleased to partner with Jay Z and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, who share our belief that every child deserves a great education.”

“It will be a thrill to welcome Jay Z to Carnegie Hall as he joins an illustrious list of top popular artists who have appeared at the Hall throughout its history,” said Clive Gillinson, Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director.

“It’s wonderful that he and the United Way of New York City have come together with the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation for these performances, putting a spotlight on an important cause, creating greater access to higher education.” Private ticket packages will go on sale Monday, December 12th. For information on these private sales, please visit www.unitedwaynyc.org.

In addition, a limited number of single tickets will be offered to the public on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 11:00 AM (EST). For more information on limited single tickets, please visit www.carnegiehall.org as of January 30.

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