Fortune Society hosts back-to-school book bag giveaway in time for the start of school – The Amsterdam News, 09/02/10

“Children and families from Harlem and surrounding neighborhoods gathered on Saturday at The Fortune Society’s supportive housing facility, The Fortune Academy, to receive nearly 1,000 book bags filled with school supplies, thanks to 300 men serving time at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, NY…”

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Pictures of this successful event, taken by Fortune’s own Tam Phan, are shown below:

Kids and their families line up outside the Fortune Academy, known fondly as “the Castle”, to pick up their free book bags.

Alvaro Cumberbatch, a Fortune Society client and volunteer who played a significant role in coordinating and running this event, expresses his excitement at the turnout.  Alvaro writes a feature for the Fortune blog in which he expresses his personal perspective on the process of reentry (check it out here!).

Neighborhood kids and their families collect the book bags, full of school supplies, donated by men from Green Haven.

Fortune volunteers pose with folks from the West Harlem neighborhood in which the Castle is located after a super successful book bag give away event!