United Way of Broward County, Florida’s MISSION UNITED recently called upon its community to support local families with back-to-school donations — and we’re proud to report that the HealthTrust team answered the call, in a big way!
What is United Way’s #BackpackBroward Drive?
A program designed to support local U.S. military service members, veterans, and their families, United Way of Broward County’s MISSION UNITED provides volunteer-based services to help fill gaps in education, employment, healthcare, legal, financial, and housing services, offering solutions to help families meet these essential in times of need.
And, as part of that mission, the group holds a yearly Backpack Broward campaign to help make sure that kids in the community “start the school year with the tools they need to succeed,” in the words of event organizers.
To do that, the program focuses on buying brand-new backpacks and filling them with back-to-school essentials — notebooks, pocket folders, highlighters, glue sticks, erasers, pens, pencils, scissors, crayons, rulers, tissues, and lots more.
Valued at $75 each, these fully stocked backpacks are then distributed to families of military service members and veterans with school-aged children who attend Broward County schools. Participants are encouraged to either provide stocked backpacks, or make a financial contribution to sponsor the purchase of one.
Running from May 29th through July 23rd, this year's backpack drive then concluded with an event on July 30 to give away the supplies gathered — just in time to kick off the 2025-2026 school year!
“MISSION UNITED is proud to serve those who served us, and that includes supporting their families,” said James Heaton, Vice President of United Way of Broward County’s MISSION UNITED. “Providing school supplies is a simple yet powerful way to show gratitude to our military families and ensure their children are ready to thrive in the classroom.”
How the HealthTrust Team Came Together to Support United Way’s Backpack Broward
And we’re thrilled to announce that the HealthTrust team rose to the occasion, donating hundreds of dollars’ worth of supplies and financial contributions to this year's Backpack Broward drive.
Put together by the HealthTrust Employee Engagement Committee (EEC), which dedicated a company training room to serve as a command center, team members were encouraged to work together to assemble the needed items. In addition to helping ease the cost of individual donations, the effort helped nurture communication and teamwork — both of which are highly valued at HealthTrust.
And the team responded to that request with the usual HealthTrust enthusiasm and excitement, which also highlighted the unique strengths of the culture they work in every day.
Thanks to the nature of their work, HealthTrust team members have a chance to make a difference on a daily basis by connecting nurses and clinicians with the employers and communities that need them. And by encouraging the support of meaningful causes that help local families overcome adversity, they have even more opportunities to make an impact, in a way that truly matters.
Inspired? Join the HealthTrust Community!
You can read more about #BackpackBroward here. And if you’re a recruitment professional interested in joining a team that truly cares about the community we work in, serve, and support, we’ve got great positions open! Browse them here.
