Big Summer Giveback to provide backpacks filled with supplies

WHAT: Distribution of a backpack full of new school supplies to local under-resourced students 

WHEN: Tue., Sept. 13, 9 a.m.

WHERE: Walnut Grove Elementary (6103 NE 72nd Ave #1998, Vancouver, WA 98661) 

WHY: In the schools served by Kids In Need Foundation, nearly two out of three students arrive on the first day of school without the supplies they need to learn.

VANCOUVER – This back-to-school season, Toyota dealerships together with Kids In Need Foundation (KINF) are partnering up to make sure local students have the supplies they need to learn. 

Through its inaugural Big Summer Giveback program, McCord’s Vancouver Toyota, together with 450 dealerships nationwide will support local schools, including students at Walnut Grove Elementary.

“McCord’s Vancouver Toyota has been serving our wonderful community for over four decades, as Clark County’s Best New and Used Car dealership, we take great pride in our philanthropic efforts and welcome the challenge to make a positive impact for our students. This is one of the many reasons why our team wanted to partner with Kids In Need Foundation and support Walnut Grove Elementary kids with backpacks for the 2022-2023 school year,” said Phillip Cianni, general manager of McCord’s Vancouver Toyota. “We understand the importance of equipping our local youth with the tools and equipment to be successful, this is why we were called to support the Big Summer Giveback program. Our dealership wanted to ensure as many students as possible receive the opportunity to have an amazing school year with confidence to excel in the classroom using new school supplies.”

From August 1-31, 2022, Toyota donated $3.00 to KINF for every oil change using Genuine Toyota Motor Oil with a tire rotation at participating Toyota Service Centers. Toyota also is promoting equity in education through an additional fundraiser during the month from customers who would like to contribute more, collecting donations at www.kinf.org/toyota.  

“We are thrilled to partner with Toyota on this initiative, knowing that so many students across the country will start the year with the supplies they need to learn,” said Corey Gordon, CEO of KINF. “Not only does this ease the burden on teachers to provide supplies in under-resourced schools, but it also generates greater awareness to the general public of the need for equitable learning environments in our underserved communities across the country.”

From Boston to Charlotte to Los Angeles to Portland, tens of thousands of students will receive a new backpack full of essential school supplies through KINF’s Supply A Student program. Nearly 40 dealerships – including McCord’s Vancouver Toyota – have committed to $10,000 donations in their community, ensuring that local students will start the school year strong with new supplies. 

About Kids In Need Foundation

Kids In Need Foundation (KINF) believes every child in America deserves equal opportunity and access to a quality education. KINF partners with teachers in underserved schools to ensure students are prepared to learn in the classroom, providing essential school supplies and other much-needed resources. KINF is the only national nonprofit that strategically mobilizes its efforts on the country’s most under-resourced schools, focusing on those with a student enrollment of 70 percent or more receiving free and reduced meals through the National School Lunch Program. Through its programs and National Network of Resource Centers, comprised of more than 40 mission-driven organizations across the U.S., KINF in 2021 supported over 7.8 million students and 316,900 teachers in 13,808 under-resourced schools. More than $162 million in free supplies and classroom resources was distributed nationwide at no cost to schools or teachers. For more information, visit KINF.org, and join on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter: @KidsInNeed.