Project Description
COA Youth & Family Centers recently hosted its annual “Beyond the Book Bag” back-to-school event, bringing together the Amani community for a day filled with fun, learning, and generosity. In partnership with Northwestern Mutual, a leading financial services company who generously provided school supplies and volunteers, the event ensured that families in the Amani Neighborhood were well-prepared for the upcoming school year.
Other community partners included Amani United, WI Family Assistance Center, Aurora Health Care, University of Wisconsin – Madison, BMO Bank, Safe & Sound, Pathfinders, Chorus Community Healthcare, Children’s WI, and the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum. Along with Northwestern Mutual, these amazing partners contributed to the success of the day, offering various resources, activities and support to families.
The event featured a wide range of activities for children and their families. Families enjoyed a free lunch and received backpacks filled with essential school supplies; 413 backpacks were distributed at this year’s event. Kids engaged in exciting STEM activities, such as paper rocket making, binary coding with beads, instant snow experiments, and crafting homemade kazoos. Outdoor activities like bucket toss, soccer, and kickball added to the day’s excitement.
Northwestern Mutual employees also played a significant role, with 36 employees volunteering their time and energy to support the event. “We have a really strong culture at Northwestern Mutual of volunteering and giving back with community outreach activities like Beyond the Book Bag, and I’m just blown away by how many people wanted to volunteer on a Friday in August,” said David Humphreys, Assistant Director – Advisory Investments at Northwestern Mutual. “I want to thank Lorenzya Polnitz, Emma Fredrickson, and everyone at COA for being such great partners for us.”
This year’s Beyond the Book Bag event was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared purpose. Through the collective efforts of our partners, volunteers, and supporters, we’ve not only equipped children in Milwaukee with the tools they need for a successful school year but also reaffirmed our commitment to their futures.