HWW 4th Annual Back to School Backpack Drive

Last summer High Water Women distributed over 3,000 backpacks to children in Harlem, Astoria, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Newark, and Philadelphia.

We need your help to reach even more kids in need this year!

For children who are homeless, in foster care, or impoverished, a backpack filled with school supplies can provide the necessary motivation to attend the first day of school prepared and ready to learn, rather than feeling left out and embarrassed for lack of having what other students have. Even more important to many students, the backpacks carry with them the feeling that someone cares enough to support them in such a meaningful way.

We would be so grateful if you could help us out! Here are three ways you can help.

1. DONATE BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES - A fully loaded backpack should cost approximately $50. Please refer to the Fact Sheet (see chart below) for more information.

We will collect backpacks from June through mid-August at the following locations:

Manhattan (downtown): iVision International LLC, 90 John Street, Suite 311 (corner Gold Street), New York, New York 10038 Please confirm with Jennifer Sellas at 212.252.0870 x 212 or jsellas@ivisioninternational.com.

Manhattan (midtown): Morgan Stanley, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 39th Floor (corner 6th with entrances at West 48th and 49th Streets), New York, NY 10020.  Please confirm with Heather Tancredi at  212 762-5933 or Heather.Tancredi@morganstanley.com

Greenwich: Tudor Investment Corp., 1275 King Street, Greenwich, CT, 06831.  Please confirm with Therese Oswald (203) 863-6778. Backpacks should be dropped off at the front entrance with the receptionist. After business hours, backpacks may be left at the side entrance with security.

ALL BACKPACKS SHOULD BE LABELED TO I.D. THE INTENDED AGE GROUP.  PLEASE ALSO SPECIFY BOYS OR GIRLS.

Please mail all original receipts worth $50 or more to Marina Winton, Acting Executive Director, High Water Women Foundation, c/o 170 East 87th Street, W7B, NY, NY 10128 to receive tax receipt/acknowledgement.

2. DONATE MONEY - High Water Women volunteers will purchase and assemble backpacks and school supplies with your generous contribution. Checks are greatly preferred. Please send a check payable to the High Water Women Foundation to: Marina Winton, Acting Executive Director, High Water Women Foundation, c/o 170 East 87th Street, W7B, NY, NY 10128. For credit card donations, click on this link to donate online: www.nycharities.org. Please consider a minimum donation of $250. Donations will be accepted through August 1.

High Water Women Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is eligible to receive tax deductible contributions.  Your donation to HWW's backpack project will be allocated ninety percent to purchasing and distributing backpack supplies to organizations which serve underprivileged children, and up to 10% for general charitable purposes of HWW, including the administration of the backpack project.

3. VOLUNTEER - Mark your calendars! Volunteers are needed to assemble backpacks on Wednesday August 13 and Thursday August 14. Our host this year is Credit Suisse, located at 11 Madison, corner 24th Street. For more information and to be involved with this year's drive, please contact backpacks@highwaterwomen.org. Thanks in advance for your help!