Employees From All of Smith’s United States Offices Donate, Volunteer to Help Young Students for the 2021-2022 School Year

Back to school time is often an exciting part of the year, with the anticipation of making new friends and expanding horizons. But as summertime fades into fall, many parents begin to feel the financial worries of what sending their children back to school means for their households.

To help lessen the burden for families in need, every Smith office in the United States recently hosted a fundraiser that focused on helping children get ready for school.

At Smith’s Houston headquarters, employees participated in a uniform drive to help underprivileged students. Partnering with the Boykins Youth Foundations for a fifth year, employees raised enough money to give uniforms to nearly 250 children.

“Alone, we can do so little, but together we can do so much more,” said Christopher Boykins, who founded the organization for underprivileged children in Houston. “It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed. Thank you, Smith, for your continued support of the Boykins Youth Foundations.”

Our San Jose office held a backpack drive in conjunction with Family Giving Tree. Team members collected donations to purchase backpacks and school supplies for children in need, and then volunteered to fill the backpacks with supplies to get them ready ahead of the first day of school.

“Our office really loves working with this organization,” said Luis Freitas, General Manager of our San Jose location. “We’ve partnered together a few times to raise funds as well as volunteer to put backpacks together, and every time has been so rewarding. It’s great knowing we’re helping local children to get ready for the upcoming school year and taking that financial strain off the parents, so the kids can focus on learning.”

Currently, Smith’s Austin office is holding a fundraiser to help Girlstart, a program that empowers girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in Texas’s capital city.

“This is a cause that means a lot to me, as a woman in the technology sector with two young daughters,” said Lindsey Garland, Director of Corporate Strategy. “When we help those who might not otherwise have access to certain opportunities, especially in science, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.”

Doing well in school isn’t just about having the supplies needed to get you through the day. It starts well before the bell rings.

Our New York office recently raised $2,400 for Pajama Program, an organization that helps children get a good night’s rest through coordinated pajama and book distributions, as well as promoting sleep-health education.

“Pajama Program is a personal favorite of mine, right here in New York City,” said Frances Sadis. “Getting a good night’s rest is vital for anyone, especially children who are still learning to navigate the world and need to do well in school.”