Save the Date!
Back To School Rhode Island’s next event will take place Saturday August 23rd, 2025.
About Back to School of Rhode Island
The Back to School of RI is a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization whose mission is to provide outstanding quality educational programs helping individuals and families reach their full intellectual potential.
We value diversity and believe that everyone can become a contributing member of society.
Our History
The Back to School Celebration of RI was originally planned by Mr. Melvin Bell, Program Officer for the Rhode Island Foundation, and Jorge Cardenas, who at the time was a Field Coordinator for Parents Making a Difference. These two caring individuals had a great love for children. They wished to establish an organization whose goal would be to involve single parents in the education of their children, thereby helping to create an atmosphere of trust and open communication between schools, students and families.
Beside of the educational component the Back to School of RI has been hosting the Back to School Celebration Event since 1999. Growing steadily in popularity, the Back to School Celebration event continue to build wide support and momentum throughout the community.
The inaugural celebration in 1999 was held twenty-four years ago at just one site, hosting approximately 600 Providence School student and families. Since its inception and development by Sodexho School Services, the back to School celebration has grown significantly. In 2022, the Back to School Celebration event overall was a great success. Backpacks and school supplies were distributed to almost 20,000 students at twelve different sites. Students and their families enjoyed a day of entertainment, food and music. Families that attended the event received educational information and information about free services provided at different organizations in the State of Rhode Island.
About the Back to School Celebration of RI: For 26 years the organization has served thousands of families statewide by providing the necessary resources for each child to be successfully prepared for their school year.
The Back to School Celebration program, which started with only 600 backpacks and a few school supplies at a single site, has now expanded to 15,000 backpacks and supplies at ten community sites throughout the state. The Back to School Celebration of Rhode Island is a 501 c3 non-profit organization created to involve parents in the education of their children, helping to create an atmosphere of trust and open communication between schools, students, and families.
| www.btsri.org | Providence | RI | 02907