BROOKE JACKMAN FOUNDATION OFFERS
RELIEF TO CHILDREN AFFECTED BY HURRICANE SANDY
Literacy Foundation Started after 9/11 Distributes
More than 3,000 Brooke Packs
with School Supplies and Books to New
York Area Shelters and Schools
New York, NY (November 20, 2012): In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, New York
City officials estimate that more than 20,000 people were left homeless, many
of them children. As shelters across the New York region swell with occupants,
the Brooke Jackman Foundation (BJF),
a non-profit organization that promotes literacy for at-risk children in the
greater New York area, is taking action to support children who were affected
by the storm, delivering children’s books as well as Brooke Packs – backpacks
filled with books, pens, pencils, erasers, rulers and other school supplies – to shelters across the area.
“Founded after
losing my sister, Brooke, in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, BJF is no stranger to
tragedy, and in keeping with my sister’s giving spirit, we see the vital
importance of helping support children during times of loss,” said Erin
Jackman, BJF’s Executive Director. “Devastating events like this often affect kids
the most, and we hope the books and Brooke Packs will provide entertainment and
education to displaced children while also advancing our ultimate goal of
increasing children’s literacy across New York.”
In recent weeks, BJF
sent Brooke Packs to some of the hardest hit areas of Long Beach, Long Island, delivering
1,000 packs to the Long Beach Catholic School and 1,000 more to the Lindell
Elementary School.
In partnership with “Rebound for Rockaway/Rebound for New
York,” which was recently founded by the New York Knicks’ Tyson Chandler and
his wife Kimberly, BJF has also sent hundreds of books to children in the
Rockaways.
Future book delivery locations include Island Park, Long
Island, in partnership with FEGS Health and Human Services, and PS 317 in
Rockaway Park.
“This is only
the beginning,” Erin Jackman added. “We intend to continue to deliver books and
school supplies to children who need them in New York City, Long Island, and other
hard-hit areas. We want to ensure that Sandy’s child victims have access to
reading materials and school supplies at a time when they need them most.”
If you would like to support BJF’s Hurricane Sandy Relief
Efforts or know of a school or shelter in need of books or school supplies,
please visit brookejackmanfoundation.org.
The Brooke Jackman
Foundation was created 11 years ago to honor Brooke Jackman, a bright and
compassionate 23-year-old who was killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks before
achieving her dream of becoming a social worker. Brooke was an avid reader, and
her passion and commitment to literacy and helping children spurred the Jackman
family to create BJF as her living legacy – turning tragedy and despair
into hope for a better world. Since 2001, the Brooke Jackman Foundation has
donated nearly 200,000 books and over 20,000 Brooke Packs, backpacks filled
with books and school supplies, to children and families in need. BJF has
established four libraries, as well as a number of after-school literacy
programs, at sites across all five boroughs, including homeless shelters and
Family Justice Centers for victims of domestic violence and crime in Brooklyn,
Queens and the Bronx. The Brooke Jackman Foundation Read-a-thon recognizes the
hope born from the tragic events of that day and celebrates the resiliency of
New York and its children.
For more
information, please visit www.brookejackmanfoundation.org.
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Media Contacts:
Brittnie Mabry
Office: 646. 490. 6446
Cell: 256. 339. 8303
Sara Lieber
Office: 646. 490. 6446
Cell: 917. 370. 1531