A total of 1,700 children in Clark County foster care—ranging from kindergarten through 12th grade—will head back to school with new backpacks and supplies, thanks to a strong community response that generated $429,167.98 in donations during the Back-to-School Gear Giveaway for Foster Care hosted by Commissioner Jim Gibson and Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick. The effort culminated Wednesday with a kickoff event at the Grand Prix Plaza, home of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Thanks to added community support led by Commissioners Gibson and Kirkpatrick, another 300 backpacks and supplies were distributed to the biological children of families who open their homes as foster parents.

Local residents, businesses and organizations donated backpacks, school supplies and other essentials throughout the drive. Clark County also provided shoes, while the Las Vegas Raiders and The Original Barber School provided haircut vouchers. 375 volunteers contributed their time, including corporations, such as Southwest Airlines with a group of 62 volunteers and JP Morgan Chase with a group of 48 volunteers, working alongside County staff to prepare personalized packages for each child.

The comprehensive services provided included new backpacks filled with school supplies for K-12 students, essential classroom items such as tissue and disinfecting wipes, new shoes and socks, and other school essentials. These resources, along with immunizations, sports physicals, vision exams, and haircut vouchers, created a one stop shop for back-to-school needs. Families also learned about Clark County’s SafeKey and Recreation programs, received free books and signed up for a library card through Clark County Library District, and enjoyed a free dinner provided by In-N-Out. In addition, 100 infants received diapers and wipes from Baby’s Bounty.

Last year's initiative provided nearly 1,795 backpacks and generated approximately $362,000 in sponsorships and in-kind donations — a total surpassed this year.

“Year after year, our community comes together to make sure children in foster care feel supported and seen, and this year is no different,” said Commissioner Jim Gibson. “The heart of this initiative is the countless residents, businesses and volunteers who step up to help kids start the school year with confidence.”

“Back-to-school season should be exciting for every child,” said Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick. “We’re proud to support our foster families with the resources they need to start the year strong. This event is all about creating a fun, welcoming space where families can come together, enjoy the day, and make sure students have what they need to thrive in the classroom.”

We are honored to host this incredible event inside Grand Prix Plaza for our third year, said Lori Nelson-Kraft, SVP of Community Affairs for Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. “Our employees also love being part of this event and proudly donated 175 pairs of shoes and are volunteering their time to help make getting ready for school special for so many children.”

The initiative was led by Clark County Family Services alongside Commissioners Gibson, Kirkpatrick, and carried out in collaboration with a wide range of community partners, including sponsors such as Picerne Family Charitable Foundation, Canyon Ridge Church, and Trilogy by Shea Homes

Additional participating organizations included Share in the Joy, CASA Las Vegas, Clark County Department of Environmental & Sustainability, Commission Chairman Michael Naft, Clark County, Clark County Fire Department, Clark County Parks & Recreation, Critical Care Comics, Cut & Taste, DJ Quez, Eagle Quest, Events With A Twist LLC, Fairytales and Heroes Las Vegas, FirstMed Health & Wellness, Foster Kinship, Galaxy Gaming, Goettl Air Conditioning and Plumbing, HCA Healthcare, Healthy Together, Las Vegas A’s, Leather Uniform Club of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Patricia Kennedy Realtor - Real Broker LLC, Picerne, Prologis, R & S Cares, Rage Drilling Services, RubinBrown, Scouting America, Sienna Mortgage, Solera at Stallion Mt Veterans Club, Stage House Las Vegas, Toys 4 Kids Las Vegas, Western Elite, and YMCA.

Year-Round Ways to Support Children in Foster Care
Clark County Family Services encourages residents to help children beyond the Back-to-School drive, including by becoming foster parents. The County provides training, ongoing support and resources to help foster families succeed.