How To Help
Calendar 
Photos/Video 
Media Releases 
Atlanta Falcons Jonathan Babineaux recognizes local students
Hometown favorites partner with Communities In Schools of Atlanta for annual youth-focused awards luncheon
Atlanta – May 10, 2012 – This year marks forty years of service for award-winning dropout prevention organization Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta. Atlanta Falcons star defensive tackle, Jonathan Babineax, and the ever energized Harry the Hawk were on hand to help the organization celebrate local students at its 8th Annual Choose Success Awards Luncheon earlier
Antonio's quietly polite demeanor did not seem fitting with a life on the streets. But his involvement with one of Atlanta's harshest gangs was out of a need for money, rather than an innate inclination for bad behavior.
- Atlanta Falcons Jonathan Babineaux recognizes local students
- Featured Student - Antonio
Atlanta, Georgia. On Monday, Hilary Duff, actress, singer, and star of Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire,” visited Atlanta’s Bethune Elementary School to celebrate the success of the Atlanta launch of the Blessings in a Backpack program. The Blessings in a Backpack program, which began in 2005, provides students in underserved communities with a backpack full of healthy, easy-to-prepare foods weekly. In October, Blessings in a Backpack brought its program to Atlanta with the support of Philoptochos, a philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Church, Financial Services Corporation (FSC) and Communities In Schools of Atlanta.
Hilary Duff has sponsored a Los Angeles Blessings in a Backpack partner school for several years, feeding more than 1,000 children annually. “It has been a thrill for me to be involved with the growth of such an amazing program and to experience how a simple backpack of food for the weekend can affect a child,” said Duff during her Atlanta visit.
CIS of Atlanta, a local dropout prevention organization, manages the Blessings in a Backpack program on-site at Bethune, ensuring that food pick-ups and distributions to students take place weekly. Blessings in a Backpack and Hilary Duff’s visit today are truly inspiring Bethune’s students to achieve in school,” said Selina Coleman, CIS of Atlanta Program Coordinator at Bethune Elementary. “CIS of Atlanta is proud to bring resources like Blessings in a Backpack to students in our partner schools as we work to help them overcome obstacles and achieve in school.”
Principal RoseMary Hamer knows the program is having an impact. “Almost 100% of our students are eligible for federal free-and reduced price lunch programs because of economic need. Blessings in a Backpack is filling a critical gap for our families and ensuring that our students are getting healthy good to fuel their minds.”
For more information on Blessings in a Backpack at Bethune Elementary School or Communities In Schools of Atlanta, please contact Amisha Harding at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta has been surrounding students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life since 1972. Through partnerships with Atlanta Public Schools, Project GRAD and DeKalb County Schools, CIS of Atlanta is impacting more than 46,000 students at 74 partner schools during the 2010-2011 school year. CIS of Atlanta’s award-winning dropout prevention programs focus on improving student attendance and behavior, increasing parental involvement and ensuring that families have access to important resources. For more information about CIS of Atlanta, please visit www.cisatlanta.org.
Media Contact:
Amisha Harding, Director of Development
& Communications
Office: 404.881.3293
Cell: 770.823.0640
