NEWS RELEASES  >  AUGUST 24, 2023

Chicagoland Students Receive Back-to-School Gift of New Backpack, Supplies

BY FOLLETT'S CONTENT BUSINESS


Donations made possible through annual giving program from Follett employees

MCHENRY, Ill., Aug. 25, 2023 — Nearly 90 Chicagoland elementary school students were sporting brand-new backpacks, filled with an array of supplies, when they started school. The annual backpack donation program is coordinated by Follett’s Content Business through Communities That Care, a Lake-Zurich based non-profit organization provides key resources to children in need of assistance.

The 2023 campaign generated $2,000 in donations from Follett employees, which helped provide backpacks and supplies for approximately four classrooms in need this fall. The backpacks sported trendy designs for all interests, including one adorned with the Chicago Cubs’ logo. The new supplies featured crayons, markers, glue sticks, rulers, erasers, pencil pouches and more.

Diane Larrabee, longtime director of Communities That Care, applauded Follett for providing backpacks and school supplies to students in need through her organization’s back-to-school program.

“The heartfelt generosity is making a difference to children who, more than ever, need to feel the love and benevolence of those who care and support them,” Larrabee said. “The kindness attached to every backpack means the world to these children who aspire to overcome their circumstances and make their dreams come true. This kind of help is invaluable as the students grow and learn and develop their skills through the education they receive now. We appreciate Follett supporting the educational needs of the children in our community and giving them the gift of education.”

McHenry-based Follett Content Solutions is the largest provider of educational materials to PreK-12 libraries, classrooms, learning centers and school districts in the United States.

With a mission of making a positive impact on the lives of educators, students and society at large, Follett has a decades-long history of supporting the communities it serves through charitable giving, volunteer efforts, and more. Whether donating books annually to Bernie’s Book Bank, partnering with area non-profit organizations during the pandemic to hold a free diaper drive, providing college scholarships to local students, and much more, Follett is committed to giving back.

About Follett’s Content Business | follettcontent.com

Follett Content Solutions is the largest provider of educational materials to PreK-12 libraries, classrooms, learning centers and school districts in the United States, and a major supplier to educational institutions worldwide. Follett distributes textbooks, supplemental books, hands-on learning resources, audiovisual materials and digital resources through Titlewave, the most powerful online collection development and curriculum support tool for school libraries, librarians, and educators. Find Follett on Facebook, and follow on Twitter (@FollettLearning).

###

Media Contact: Doug Thompson | Thompson Drake Public Relations | 541.419.4471 | doug@thompsondrake.com

Recent News

Follett Content Introduces Free Book List Notifications for Public Libraries

October 23, 2026

With the free Follett List Notification Program, public librarians select the list types they want to follow, and we deliver matching curated lists directly to their Titlewave® inbox, along with an email alert when they're ready.
Read more

Follett Content Celebrates Colorado Teacher of the Year Merci Ames with 700-Book Donation

October 1, 2026

Merci Ames, a science teacher and longtime basketball coach at Strasburg High School, has been named the 2027 Colorado Teacher of the Year. To celebrate her impact, Follett Content donated 700 books to Strasburg High School, helping students build personal...
Read more

Follett Content and United Way of Greater McHenry County Raise More Than $30,000 to Support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

September 29, 2026

The public book sale welcomed 1,468 shoppers, who purchased 48,922 books during the one-day event. Combined with the employee presale, more than 50,500 books found new homes while helping support early childhood literacy throughout McHenry County.
Read more

Follett Content Invites Community to Annual Public Book Sale Benefiting McHenry County Children Through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

September 14, 2026

One-day sale offers thousands of books at bargain prices while supporting literacy opportunities for local children.
Read more

Follett Content Supports Book Up Summer Program Delivering Nearly 80,000 Books to Washington Students

July 14, 2026

McHenry, Ill. – July 14, 2026 – Follett Content, a leading provider of PreK-12 literacy resources, supported Page Ahead’s 2026 Book Up Summer program, helping distribute 79,959 books to 10,220 students across 50 schools throughout Washington state.Book Up Summer is...
Read more

Follett Content Team Raises Funds for CASA of McHenry County Through Employee Bookstore

June 24, 2026

McHenry, Ill. – June 24, 2026 – Follett Content, a leading provider of PreK-12 literacy resources, announced a $1,013 donation to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of McHenry County, generated through proceeds from employee purchases at Edythe’s Book Nook (EBN), its...
Read more

More articles and releases