On Thursday, Aug. 19, Office Depot, in partnership with Broward Education Foundation, distributed 1,000 brand-new backpacks to students at Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School, a Title I school in the heart of Broward County. During the Start Proud® event, students received brand new backpacks filled with school supplies to help them feel confident, prepared and proud as they embark on a new school year.
Each backpack was jammed with school supplies, including notebooks, composition books, notecards, highlighters, pens, pencils, glue sticks, and also included one $20 Office Depot® OfficeMax® merchandise card for parents to purchase additional supplies for their child throughout the school year.
Office Depot’s Lisa Bartek, Cori Rials, Lunie Williams, and Richelle Kubsch with All Star teacher Marie Nazien (seated)
Shea Ciriago, executive director of Broward Education Foundation; Karleen Thompson; Melissa Holtz, Principal Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School; Fort Lauderdale High School “Flying L” mascot; Dustin Jacobs, Broward Education Foundation Board Treasurer; Sue Colton, Broward Education Foundation Board Member and Mark Strauss, Broward County Public Schools Cadre Director
In addition, Marie Naizen was recognized as an “All-Star Teacher” for her extraordinary efforts in the classroom at Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School teacher and beyond. Ms. Naizen was presented with nearly $2,000 worth of premium school supplies and office furniture, courtesy of Office Depot and the company’s annual Start Proud! program.
Melissa Holtz, Principal Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School flanked by Fort Lauderdale High School’s “Flying L” drumline welcomes attendees
On hand to help safely distribute the nearly 1,000 backpacks and welcome students to a productive new school year were Broward County Public Schools Board Members Sarah Leonardi and Donna Korn, Broward Education Foundation Board Chair Tim Curtin, Treasurer Dustin Jacobs, Secretary Myriam Goldman and Board Member Sue Colton; Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School Principal Melissa Holtz and Assistant Principal Dr. David Martin; Fort Lauderdale High Assistant Principal Karleen Thompson and Football Coach Martin with Flying L football players, cheerleaders and mascot along with teachers and staff and a contingent of Office Depot employees.
Shea Ciriago, executive director of Broward Education Foundation (center) with Broward Education Foundation board members Sue Colton, Dustin Jacobs, Myriam Goldman and Tim Curtain with Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School kindergartners
Broward County Public Schools Board Member Donna Korn; Officer Hastings, Wilton Manors Police; Darren Brodsky, Assistant Chief of Police; Scott Newton, Mayor of Wilton Manors; Melissa Holtz, Principal Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School; Mark Strauss, Broward County Public Schools Cadre Director; Broward County Public Schools Board Member Sarah Leonardi and Gary Blocker, Chief of Police City of Wilton Manors
Office Depot Start Proud and Broward Education Foundation teams commemorating an amazing morning
Melissa Holtz, Principal Wilton Manors Elementary IB World School with two the school’s young “star” mascots
“We are so thankful for the continued generous support and the amazing partnership we’ve forged with Office Depot,” said Shea Ciriago, executive director of Broward Education Foundation. “It’s an honor to be able to provide students throughout Broward County with the educational supplies and learning tools necessary to help them learn and thrive.”
About Broward Education Foundation
Education Foundation is the only 501(c)3 charitable organization solely dedicated to supporting Broward County Public Schools and serves as a catalyst for educational excellence by providing teacher grants to fund development of innovative curriculum that advances Pre K-12 achievement; vitally needed school supplies for Title I school students, and scholarships for qualified high school seniors. Established in 1983, the non-profit Broward Education Foundation contributes more than $3 million to Broward County Public Schools annually. In 2018, responding to the Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy, Broward Education Foundation initiated a GoFundMe campaign, established the official Stoneman Douglas Victims’ Fund and raised $10.5M for victims’ families, survivors and those impacted. Broward Education Foundation is proven agile, adept and responsive to shifting needs in education and our community. For more information visit browardedfoundation.org,
