About Us

What is Project Back to School?

Project Back to School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working with the WFISD Foundation, Wichita Falls ISD, City View ISD, nonprofit organizations, businesses and hundreds of volunteers. We were created in 2009 to provide disadvantaged children with a custom school supply kit, backpack and more to begin school each year.

Our Vision

Our vision is that no child in Wichita Falls begins school without the supplies they need.

We believe that educating children from low-income families is one of the best tools for ending the cycle of poverty. For 15 years, Project Back to School has been dedicated to providing at-risk children with school supplies to begin school equipped for a successful academic year.

Currently, 3 out of every 5 students in Wichita Falls are economically disadvantaged. Join us in making our vision a reality so every child in Wichita Falls has the school supplies to succeed in school.

Our Goal

Every August, we equip about 6,000 children for academic success by distributing school supplies directly at the highest need schools and at our annual Roundup.‍

Every student at the WFISD elementary schools with enrollment of more than 95% disadvantaged students will receive school supplies and a backpack at their school. These schools are Burgess, Scotland Park, Booker T. Washington and Zundy elementary schools.

Everyone is invited to our Back to School Roundup where WFISD and CVISD students who qualify for the lunch program will receive free school supplies and backpacks.

How We Got Started

While volunteering at Scotland Park Elementary School, Cheryl Ritchie saw that there was a need for school supplies in our public schools that existing community programs could not meet. Joined by community volunteers, they created Project Back to School in 2009.

Our Team

Our team commits their time and talents year-round so no child in Wichita Falls begins school without the supplies they need.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Craig Brown

January Cadotte

Steve Cookingham

Vanda Cullar

Joey Deal

Pam Featherston (VP)

Darrell Franklin

Sarah Fukasawa

Susan Grisel (Sec)

Lillian Harris

Dr. Donny Lee

Mollie Lerew

Shunta McFadden

Katherine McGregor

Regan Nabors

Roy Olsen

Pat Page (Pres)

Lance Spruiell

Ashley Thomas

Jason White

Renee Williams

Julie Woolsey

ADVISORY TEAM

Seonaid Acevedo, Julie Bridgens, Amy Brown, Richard Brown, Martha Catano, Angela Culley, Kelsy Graves, Sheila McGaughey, Diann Taylor, and Diana White

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

A-1 Freeman Moving Group, City View ISD, Community Healthcare Center, KMOC, United Supermarkets, Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, Wichita Falls ISD, WFISD Foundation and Wichita Falls Wichita County Public Health District.