The Georgia Justice Project will host Back-2-School 2008 on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26. This worthwhile efforts will provide disadvantaged children and families with a positive and encouraging social gathering in which students will, for perhaps the first time, be empowered with free school supplies and educational resources needed to meet and exceed their academic goals.

GJP launched Back-2-School last year in response to the striking educational needs of client children, many of whom attend school without any of the necessary school supplies and study guidance.

The program, designed to facilitate academic success against staggeringly unfavorable odds, provides a safe and inviting event for GJP client families and those from John Hope Elementary School. The event concludes with the distribution of free backpacks and school supplies to the children in attendance.  (John Hope students must be registered for school to attend.)

John Hope Elementary School and the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood is home to one of the city's largest underserved populations.  Many at-risk families who live in the neighborhoods often experience violence, high truancy rates, health problems related to poor environmental conditions, and sub-quality schools. As you can imagine, these problems make it difficult for students to succeed.

A number of youth who enter the juvenile justice system come from this neighborhood because of these issues. The Back-2-School program is consistent with GJP's guiding mission—to encourage better support systems and services for children in families who are at-risk to the cycle of poverty and crime.

At this time, Georgia Justice Project is seeking corporate and community sponsorships for its Back-2-School program—an opportunity for positive community intervention. Not only does the Back-2-School event provide sponsors with a unique opportunity to reach children and their families residing in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historic District, but also a chance to associate their name and brand with a positive and influential effort to enhance the lives of children and families in the heart and soul of Atlanta.

Back-2-School Supply List

Georgia Justice Project also kindly accepts in-kind donations for the Back-2-School event. We are most in need of the following items, all of which will be used in the Back-2-School program.

Additional Accepted Items:
Stickers
Learn-to-Read Books
Learn-to-Count Books
Coloring Books
Time Management Calendars
Dictionaries
Soft Picture Books

To Donate

$60 will completely cover one child's backpack and school supplies however, any contribution will be appreciated.

$240 provides 4 children with backpacks and school supplies.

Donate Now

To Volunteer

If you would like to show your support for this event by volunteering, please complete the attached Volunteer Registration form by Thursday, July 24, 2008. 

Purchase Supplies

Consider making your school supply purchases online via Benevolink to earn money from retailers to support GJP. Benevolink features hundreds of your favorite retailers including Kmart, Staples, Target, Kohl's, and many more!

Purchase Supplies

For direct shipment or personal drop-off (any weekday, 9am-5pm):
Georgia Justice Project Back2School
438 Edgewood Avenue, N.E
Atlanta, GA 30312

Please Act Soon--Items need to be received by GJP no later than July 24th.

Questions? Call Andrea at (404) 827-0027 x215 or email GJP at andrea@gjp.org

Corporate Sponsorship Information

Click Here to see our corporate sponsors for Back-2-School 2008.

Children served by GJP and the students at John Hope Elementary share a common thread. They all live with risk factors to the cycle of poverty and crime. Many are already victim to it. This worthwhile effort providing these children with educational resources and supportive learning tools that are not only required for them to start school but will also encourage them to achieve academic success in the upcoming school year.

This is important because for most of these children, education is the only hope they have to overcome issues related to poverty. For more information about Back-2-School 2008, the family support programs of Georgia Justice Project, or your sponsorship, please contact Dell Pearce, Director of Development, (404) 827-0027 x 217, dell@GJP.org.

More Information