JUNIOR PEARLS LAUNCH BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAM TO EQUIP K-12 STUDENT CANCER PATIENTS WITH SUPPLIES AND BACKPACKS
Donations Accepted at Beckstrand Cancer Foundation Office and Via Online Link
NEWPORT BEACH, California (July 16, 2009) – Students in grades K-12 who have been diagnosed with cancer may now be eligible to receive a supply-stuffed backpack through a new back-to-school program launched by Junior Pearls of Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, a youth auxiliary dedicated to improving quality of life for kids and teens with cancer. Details about donating to and benefiting from the program – which kicks off in August – are currently available through the Junior Pearls website.
“Financial hardships resulting from a diagnosis of cancer can often make the transition back into the classroom a difficult one for students,” shares Alexandra Spitzer, founder of Junior Pearls. “We want to help them have the right tools for success and provide them with the supplies they need to learn with confidence.”
Residents of California and Oregon between the ages of five and 18, who have been diagnosed with cancer and cannot otherwise afford to purchase backpacks and necessary school supplies are eligible to receive a backpack stuffed with essential items, including pencils, crayons, notebooks, calculators, glue sticks, and more. Backpack requests should be directed to Sarah Unke by phone at 949.955.0099 or via e-mail at sarahu@beckstrand.org. The program is available while supplies last.
An initial donation of school supplies was made by Target. Additional donations from the public and area corporations are appreciated, and a list of suggested items can be found online at www.target.com/lists/11JYEXZCWOZNY. Items may be shipped or dropped off at Beckstrand Cancer Foundation’s office, located at 20341 Birch Street, Ste. 310, in Newport Beach. Monetary contributions – $100 will sponsor a stuffed backpack for a student in need – can also be made by visiting www.juniorpearls.org/backpack_program.htm.
To download a digital format of this press release, click here. 