Mike Chimento, Director, Victor Ramos, Chairman of the Board, April Chilson - Chief Operating Officer at AdventHealth Fish Memorial Hospital, Kelli Marks, President/CEO and Founder of Backpack Buddies, Bruines Ramirez, Volunteer, Bob Emerick, Volunteer, Eddie Stamm, Director
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Embry-Riddle Athletics and Advent Health have partnered to give back to the Daytona Beach Community through the Community Impact Program. Throughout 2021-22 six local non-profits will be recognized for their above-and-beyond commitment to serving others at Embry-Riddle basketball events.
At Wednesday's men's basketball game, Advent Health presented a check for $1,000 to Backpack Buddies as part of the Community Impact Program.
Backpack Buddies, a non-profit organization was created by Vice Mayor of Orange City and CEO/President, Kelli Marks in September of 2019 to remove food insecurity from children and families in Volusia County. One out of children goes hungry on the weekends in Volusia County. Backpack Buddies' mission is to provide weekend meals for our school-aged children and provide the blessing of nutrition and bring comfort to our children so that they can focus on their academics and become healthy, successful adults.
Since the pandemic began, Backpack Buddies and their community partners succeeded in that mission and took on feeding whole families. They serve over 300 children every week in 4 Volusia County Schools and have fed over 10,000 individuals in 2021 through their food pantry and food drive-thru giveaways. In addition, Backpack Buddies has been able to orchestrate Christmas for over 40 families this past year, as well as make sure there was plenty of food on the table all through the holiday season.
Backpack Buddies strategically establishes and sustains partnerships to support community development and outreach all throughout Volusia County. They have outstanding volunteers and can always use more at their two locations in Orange City.
Anyone who wishes to be a community partner or contribute to Backpack Buddies can visit www.BackpackBuddiesOC.org.
The primary goal of the Embry-Riddle/Advent Health Community impact program is to support and bringing awareness to the work being done by various groups and organizations who are making an impact on the Volusia County Greater Daytona Beach community.
Embry-Riddle Director of Sports Marketing Mitch Van Sumeren also notes that it is a great opportunity for Eagle fans to learn more about these groups and potentially support them as well.
