2011 NJCCA "Backpack Event" - Photo Essay
Val Camara
Now in it's fourth year, the annual Build-a-Backpack event, has become on the the most popular and best supported events in the NJCCA calendar. This year more than 60 adults and children, helped fill 200 backpacks with essential school supplies for inner-city first and second graders. Inspired by the Association of Corporate Counsel's National Community Service Day, the event has been jointly spearheaded for the past four years by Rebecca Brazzano of Thompson Hine and Valerie Camara of Merck (and a past president of NJCCA.)
NJCCA members and their families, and our generous sponsors (Thompson Hine, NJCCA, Update Legal, the Dolce and Axiom) donated the backpacks, books, pencils, pencil sharpeners, markers, composition notebooks, pencil boxes, art smocks, construction paper, crayons, erasers, glue, scissors and other items requested by the school administration. Axiom donated tee shirts for the volunteers. We had an overwhelming number of donations, both of school supplies and cash all of which will be donated to the schools.
By far this was the best outpouring of NJCCA members and their families helping in a small way the community in which we live and work. Below are some photos from the packing event for your enjoyment!
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The Samilow Family (Audrey, Jacob and Larry) demonstrated that the evening was a family affair, where we all came out for a good cause to fill 200 backpacks with school supplies and a new book for the lucky kindergarteners and preschoolers at two Newark schools.
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Caroline happily modeled the backpack for us!
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Caroline is Dana Gilbert's daughter.
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NJCCA President Joe Aronds showing off the backpack he filled.
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Rebecca Brazzano of Thompson Hine, and Valerie Camara of Merck, the driving forces behind this special event.
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NJCCA Board and Committee members and friend of NJCCA came out to help! (Standing from the left) Larry Samilow of Update Legal, Darlene Lapola, Dana Gilbert, Giuliano Chicco, Michael Prokop, Evaleon Hill and Barbra Levy; (Seated) Joseph Aronds, Gail Girard, Rebecca Brazzano of Thompson Hine, and Valerie Camara.
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200 deflated backpacks, waiting to be filled.
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The students are "tickled pink" to get these supplies.
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The Build-A Backpack Assembly Line.
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Supplies are loaded cafeteria style.
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Our fearless Exective Director monitoring the packing
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Industrious packers filling two backpacks at a time.
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Rebecca Brazzano of Thompson Hine models the event "uniform," donated by Axiom. |
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Giuliano Chicco and Charlie, Barbra Levy's son, help to load the filled backpacks. Or is Charlie just resting and Giuliano is doing the heavy lifting?. |
