Community • 16th Aug, 23

CEOC & Bridgebuilders Host Largest School Supply Giveaway to Date

The community advocate charities partnered up once again to prepare students and families for the 2023-24 school year and beyond.

CEOC co-hosted the BridgeBuilders annual “I Got Your Back” event on Saturday, August 5 for the second year to equip approximately 400 students and their families with vital community resources. With their partners, the community organizations provided school supplies and more for students in grades K-12. 

The event also boasted meaningful community partners who joined to share a variety of their local resources. One of BridgeBuilders’ newest and most effective programs, the South Dallas Community Market, was among them. Since opening in February of this year, the community market has had a significant impact on families in Bonton, providing over 200,000 pounds of free, nutritious food to support more than 1,800 families. 

“This event is such a blessing to the people in Bonton. It was heartwarming to see the increase in confidence as kids received their school supplies, haircuts and more,” says CEOC President and Founder Scott Turner. “What students received here today is equipping them and at the same time giving them a sense of dignity as they walk into school fully prepared that first day. In addition to providing them with a strong foundation to start the school year, their families are given a wealth of local resources that give hope and sustenance.”

In addition to school supplies and family resources – CEOC, BridgeBuilders, and their partners welcomed 500+ Bonton residents to a community block party. Guests enjoyed a cookout sponsored by Rosewood Ranches and AFI, drinks and chips provided by Frito Lay, and a raffle sponsored by Sam’s Club and Origin Bank. There was also a variety of other festivities for all ages including Kona Ice snow cones, Senior Bingo, a basketball tournament, inflatables, face painting, a manicure station, and more.

“Our efforts here in Bonton are intended to create an impact that goes far beyond this school year. We are giving these kids and their families opportunities and sustainable resources that will build up our next generation of leaders and break the cycles of poverty we see in these historically under-resourced communities,” says Turner. “The same goes for our overall mission – we focus on creating sustainable opportunities that will serve people both immediately and for a lifetime.”

ABOUT CEOC

The Community Engagement & Opportunity Council (CEOC) was founded in 2021 by former NFL player, Texas State Representative, pastor, and local businessman Scott Turner. Turner previously served as the first Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC), which was created to transform America’s most distressed communities through economic development and community impact.

Following his time at the White House, Turner and his team continue to help those living in under-resourced neighborhoods through his family foundation, Community Engagement & Opportunity Council (CEOC). CEOC’s mission is to revitalize the communities of America through sports, mentorship, and economic opportunity.

You are encouraged to learn more about CEOC via the website and on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sam Davis | sam.davis@communityeoc.org | 903.517.1295