Ready, Set, Go! Lexington Neightborhood Back to School Rallies

2008 Back-to-School Rally Sites

In August 2006, nine Lexington neighborhoods came together to host simultaneous back to school rallies. 4,000 low-income elementary school children received backpacks stuffed with supplies that helped them succeed this school year. (2006 Year's Sponsors)

The event unified neighborhoods in a way that is seldom seen in our city. Rather than just expect handouts, neighborhoods and families allied their resources to match those provided by corporate partners who provided backpacks and school supplies for elementary school students. Each neighborhood solicited its own grassroots support, planned its activities, entertainment, speakers and door prizes. In some locations, neighborhoods procured supplies for older students.

Though the main focus of the back to school rallies is to make sure all children are prepared for school, these events also build bridges among the neighborhoods, schools and local businesses by establishing relationships that neighborhoods can utilize in the future for a variety of needs.

The esprit de corps grew: on August 11, 2007, 13 neighborhoods joined to increase neighborhood involvement in public education and over 150 sponsors helped neighborhoods serve 7,000 children. On August 7 and 8, 100s of volunteers came together at the William T. Young Center at Transylvania University to stuff the backpacks with supplies. Among those stuffing were students who were employed through the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Summer Youth Employment Program. This event proved the culmination of their summer experience.

Click here to view a slideshow of the 2007 event, including key sponsors, partners and goals acheived.

In 2008, let Lexington’s school children know you’ve got their back during the August 9th event. Help sponsor backpacks and school supplies for elementary school students to enable them to succeed this coming school year.  This year, there will be 16 neighborhoods participating in this event giving out 6,000 elementary school supplies. 

History of Back to School Rallies: In past years, One Community One Voice coordinated one central back-to-school rally while some individual neighborhoods also carried out more localized efforts. In 2006, OCOV partnered with LexLinc to develop a system of neighborhood-based rallies. In 2007, LexLinc accepted all central coordination responsibility, including raising sponsorships to purchase backpacks and elementary school supplies.

For more information, contact Catherine Warner at 859.381.1302 x229 or click here to email her.