With the first day of school approaching, Target teamed up with athletic and lifestyle brand Champion to host a back-to-school event Aug. 26 at its Atlantic Terminal store for 75 Brooklyn students from the local nonprofit Children of Promise, NYC (CPNYC).
Each student received a backpack and a $100 Target gift card to purchase classroom essentials, helping them start the year prepared and confident. The event coincided with Champion’s launch of its latest collection at Target, featuring apparel designed to help kids feel ready for the year ahead.
The effort reflected both companies’ commitment to youth empowerment and making a positive impact locally.
Since 1946, Target has given 5% of its profit to communities. Regina Hall, a Target human resources executive, said the Minneapolis-based corporation was excited to host the event.
“Here at Target, not only do we give back to the community, we are the community,” Hall said. “And we are so excited to kick off this back-to-school event to give the kids the essentials that they need for the first day of school.”
Founded in 2009, CPNYC launched the first and only after-school program and summer day camp in New York City designed to support children with a parent in prison. With locations in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and the South Bronx, the group serves Black, Indigenous and other children of color ages 6–18. Its mission is to disrupt cycles of trauma and poverty to help families affected by mass incarceration thrive.
According to CPNYC, children impacted by incarceration often face severe educational disruptions. National studies show they are 40% more likely to struggle with literacy and numeracy.
Sharon Content, CPNYC’s executive director, said she was eager to partner with Target ahead of the school year.
“We’re so excited about our partnership with Target, which allows our families to shop and be able to start school with a level of dignity and respect. And excitement, as every child deserves,” Content said. “This shopping experience really allows them to choose the things that their family most needs.”
