More Than 2,100 Backpacks Donated Through The Cooper Foundation’s Operation Backpack
In the past three years alone, The Cooper Foundation has donated more than 6,000 school-supply filled backpacks to Camden students.
Thanks to the generosity of Cooper University Health Care team members and other donors, The Cooper Foundation purchased 2,110 backpacks and additional supplies for students enrolled at KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy’s Lanning Square Primary, Lanning Square Middle School, Whittier Elementary, Whittier Middle, and Charles Sumner High School as part of the Foundation’s annual Operation Backpack.
“Cooper has a long and proud history of serving and supporting our neighbors. The pandemic has brought new challenges for the youth in our community, so it is our privilege to help give them some of the tools they need for a new year of learning,” said Philip A. Norcross, chairman of The Cooper Foundation.
In previous years, Cooper team members and departments came together to collect and donate the backpacks and school supplies for Camden students. To ensure everyone’s health and safety during the pandemic, this year The Cooper Foundation solicited monetary donations to purchase the needed supplies.
“People have fond memories of getting new school supplies. Operation Backpack brings joy to both our donors as well as the students and teachers. We are pleased to be able to continue this giving tradition each year,” said Robert A. Ortiz Jr., JD, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer of The Cooper Foundation.
The backpacks and school supplies were delivered to each of the recipient schools to be distributed to students at the start of the year.
About Cooper University Health Care
Cooper University Health Care is a leading academic health system with more 8,500 employees and more than 800 employed physicians. Cooper University Hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in South Jersey and the busiest in the region. Annually, nearly two million patients are served at Cooper’s 635-bed flagship hospital, outpatient surgery center, three urgent care centers, and more than 105 ambulatory offices throughout the community.
The Cooper Health Sciences campus is home to Cooper University Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more. The Cooper Foundation serves as the philanthropic, community outreach, and community development arm of Cooper University Health Care.
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Contact: Wendy Marano
Office: 856.382.6463
Cell: 856.904-1688
marano-wendy@cooperhealth.edu