On Thursday, August 21st, we hosted the 7th Annual "Hooray! It's Back to School Day!" event!
356 Jam-packed bookbags were distributed… with over 100 more distributed to those on the Wait List!
109 Hair-cuts were provided by licensed professionals!
27 Kids had their hair styled into incredible braids!
...and countless smiles FILLED the FIRTH as Phillipsburg kids started to feel ready for school again!
Many, many, many people deserve PRAISE for putting together this wonderful, much-needed event...
- To all our P'burgians and FYC Faithful who continue to support the mission of the work we do! The volume of donated school supplies was absolutely insane. We could not have packed over 400 backpacks without the countless drop-offs, online order shipments, and over-flowing shopping bags left on our porch. Whether you dropped off a few packs of pencils, shipped boxes from our Amazon Wish List, or swung by with a truckload from your company or community organization, it would not have been possible without all of YOU stepping up to help! This event truly takes a village...and our village is powerful
- Special thanks to St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church who provided all of the backpacks this year! Also, applause to the Kiwanis Club of Phillipsburg and Christine Wolff from Wolff Works by Proforma for suppyling all of the folders and dry erase markers! This event wouldn't be possible without community partners stepping up to support our youth.
- The professionals at B&J's ChopShop, Jenn Truby, Kellyann Fehley, Laura Jacob, and Fernando & his Lifestyle Barber Academy students, all of whom volunteered their services to help children look & feel their best as they embark on a new school year! Byron of B&J’s ChopShop has supported this event since inception and we could not be more grateful for his incredible dedication!
- To our friends at Traditions Family Success Center, especially Latiesha Carter, who facilitated the hair braiding services with her crew of volunteers! The smiles of the freshly braided students were so heartwarming!
- To our faithful volunteers who stepped up without hesitation (yet again) to assist! You made all of the kids and families feel so welcome! Georgia, Charlene, Maria, Susan, Nina, Laura, Mr. Mike, RJ, and Zoey...we're so grateful!
- To our partner agencies who came to set-up information tables for families who could benefit from the services they offer. We never thought the event could grow bigger, but you all were a wonderful and welcomed addition to our families. The following agencies were on-site the entire event: Center for Family Services, Tri County Care Management Organization, Phillipsburg School District, Catholic Charities, DASACC of Warren County, Norwescap Community Resource and Referral Services, Norwescap Energy Assistance, and Warren County Department of Human Services. THANK YOU ALL for bringing your services directly to the families!
- To long-time FYC Supporters, HullofaBalloon, who provided the BEAUTIFUL balloons! They continuously donate their masterpieces for our holiday events, so we knew just who to call for Hooray Day! With the picture station and colorful firecrackers above, this company shattered all expectations
- To our friends at McWane Ductile, who stepped up BIG by sponsoring the 2025 event. When they were looking for ways to make an impact and help youth in Town, Hooray Day was on their radar! The expenses related to run an event of this magnitude are high, so having their support truly helps sustain this much-needed community event!
- To our staff who are willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get our crazy ideas accomplished! From dozens of phone calls, hundreds of emails, organizing nearly 400 appointments, stuffing backpacks, setting up for hours the night before, and thinking through every detail to make the event as smooth as possible… your devotion to the families we serve is incredible.
- And, finally, THANK YOU to the Hooray Day Committee... Joan Lichtenwalner, Hope Duncan (Rupell Funeral Home, LLC), Mother Ann (St. Luke's Episcopal Church), Latiesha Carter, and Miss Kelly, who worked SO hard to make this day come together! Year 1 started with a little over 100 kids served and now we’re broaching the 400 mark. You ladies are truly a force! On behalf of our Board of Directors, THANK YOU for your tireless work on "Hooray! It's Back to School Day!"
356 Jam-packed bookbags were distributed… with over 100 more distributed to those on the Wait List!
109 Hair-cuts were provided by licensed professionals!
27 Kids had their hair styled into incredible braids!
...and countless smiles FILLED the FIRTH as Phillipsburg kids started to feel ready for school again!
Many, many, many people deserve PRAISE for putting together this wonderful, much-needed event...
- To all our P'burgians and FYC Faithful who continue to support the mission of the work we do! The volume of donated school supplies was absolutely insane. We could not have packed over 400 backpacks without the countless drop-offs, online order shipments, and over-flowing shopping bags left on our porch. Whether you dropped off a few packs of pencils, shipped boxes from our Amazon Wish List, or swung by with a truckload from your company or community organization, it would not have been possible without all of YOU stepping up to help! This event truly takes a village...and our village is powerful
- Special thanks to St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church who provided all of the backpacks this year! Also, applause to the Kiwanis Club of Phillipsburg and Christine Wolff from Wolff Works by Proforma for suppyling all of the folders and dry erase markers! This event wouldn't be possible without community partners stepping up to support our youth.
- The professionals at B&J's ChopShop, Jenn Truby, Kellyann Fehley, Laura Jacob, and Fernando & his Lifestyle Barber Academy students, all of whom volunteered their services to help children look & feel their best as they embark on a new school year! Byron of B&J’s ChopShop has supported this event since inception and we could not be more grateful for his incredible dedication!
- To our friends at Traditions Family Success Center, especially Latiesha Carter, who facilitated the hair braiding services with her crew of volunteers! The smiles of the freshly braided students were so heartwarming!
- To our faithful volunteers who stepped up without hesitation (yet again) to assist! You made all of the kids and families feel so welcome! Georgia, Charlene, Maria, Susan, Nina, Laura, Mr. Mike, RJ, and Zoey...we're so grateful!
- To our partner agencies who came to set-up information tables for families who could benefit from the services they offer. We never thought the event could grow bigger, but you all were a wonderful and welcomed addition to our families. The following agencies were on-site the entire event: Center for Family Services, Tri County Care Management Organization, Phillipsburg School District, Catholic Charities, DASACC of Warren County, Norwescap Community Resource and Referral Services, Norwescap Energy Assistance, and Warren County Department of Human Services. THANK YOU ALL for bringing your services directly to the families!
- To long-time FYC Supporters, HullofaBalloon, who provided the BEAUTIFUL balloons! They continuously donate their masterpieces for our holiday events, so we knew just who to call for Hooray Day! With the picture station and colorful firecrackers above, this company shattered all expectations
- To our friends at McWane Ductile, who stepped up BIG by sponsoring the 2025 event. When they were looking for ways to make an impact and help youth in Town, Hooray Day was on their radar! The expenses related to run an event of this magnitude are high, so having their support truly helps sustain this much-needed community event!
- To our staff who are willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to get our crazy ideas accomplished! From dozens of phone calls, hundreds of emails, organizing nearly 400 appointments, stuffing backpacks, setting up for hours the night before, and thinking through every detail to make the event as smooth as possible… your devotion to the families we serve is incredible.
- And, finally, THANK YOU to the Hooray Day Committee... Joan Lichtenwalner, Hope Duncan (Rupell Funeral Home, LLC), Mother Ann (St. Luke's Episcopal Church), Latiesha Carter, and Miss Kelly, who worked SO hard to make this day come together! Year 1 started with a little over 100 kids served and now we’re broaching the 400 mark. You ladies are truly a force! On behalf of our Board of Directors, THANK YOU for your tireless work on "Hooray! It's Back to School Day!"
