SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 ( HARTFORD, CT) | On Thursday afternoon, the Theta Alpha Sigma Alumnae Chapter (TAS) of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. provided over 650 backpacks filled with school supplies to the students of Jumoke Academy Charter Schools in Hartford, CT. The donation of supplies falls under the sorority’s Operation Big Book Bag initiative. Through this program, chapters and members collect and donate educational materials, equipment and school supplies to distribute to local schools, hospitals and youth centers.
“Operation Big Book Bag is a program designed to address the needs, challenges and issues that face young scholars in our community who could be educationally at-risk,” states Terrika Foster-Brasby, president of Theta Alpha Sigma. “As we look to celebrate our sisterhood’s centennial in November, it was important to our chapter that we honor the legacy of our Founders, who were educators, by ensuring we could impact our community in a grand way.”
The local chapter of the sorority simultaneously served students at each campus of Jumoke Academy (Thelma Ellis Dickerson Elementary, Jumoke Academy Honors SMART, and Jumoke Academy Hartford Conservatory), where the students range from Pre-K to 8th grade. Each student not only received a backpack filled with items, including pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, and other educational necessities, but the sorority also provided each family with a brand new pair of shoes. In total, the local chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho provided assistance to nearly 700 families.
Donations to Operation Big Book Bag funneled through several different media, including community outreach, as many across social media invested in the event, as well as several local businesses, who contributed to the efforts via monetary donations or an in-kind shipment of supplies. The chapter also secured several corporate sponsors, such as Champion USA, who provided over 600 backpacks and footwear.
“We’re thrilled to sponsor the “Operation Big Book Bag” community effort,” said John, Vice President of Global Marketing, Champion. “The next generation of Champions start in the classroom and we’re proud to help provide some of the necessary resources, like backpacks and footwear, that will allow these students to thrive during the school year.”
The WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, also partnered with the chapter as a sponsor, providing a monetary donation of $2,000, as part of their “Fidelity Random Acts of Kindness” initiative, which assisted in the purchase of supplies for the students, as well as classroom supplies, sanitizers and surface wipes for the educators of each campus.
“The Connecticut Sun and Fidelity Investments share a mission to inspire better futures and deliver better outcomes for our youth,” says Paul Rector, Director of Corporate Community Partnerships, “ By funding community ‘acts of kindness’ like Operation Big Book Bag, we are ensuring a tangible impact is felt across the Jumoke Academy family.”
Operation Big Book Bag is an initiative that happens biannually in August and January of each year.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., is one of the largest Black Greek-letter organizations with over 500 chapters both domestic and international, and boasts 100,000 members worldwide. Founded November 12, 1922, the sorority is celebrating its 100th Centennial Anniversary in 2022.
The Theta Alpha Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. has been serving the Hartford community since June 25, 1995. More information about the members, programs, and services of TAS, can be found on the chapter website at www.hartfordsgrho.org
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