Clark County back-to-school giveaway raises over $429,000 for local foster youth

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A total of 1,700 children in Clark County foster care will head back to school with new backpacks and essentials after a community drive raised $429,167.98 in monetary and in-kind donations. Hosted by Clark County Commissioners Jim Gibson and Marilyn Kirkpatrick alongside Clark County Family Services, the annual Back-to-School Gear Giveaway for Foster Care culminated Wednesday, July 29, with a kickoff event at the Grand Prix Plaza. Driven by added community contributions, the initiative also distributed 300 backpacks and supplies to the biological children of local foster families.

Comprehensive services and record community support

This year’s fundraising total surpassed last year’s drive, which generated approximately $362,000 and distributed nearly 1,795 backpacks. Hosted inside Formula 1’s Grand Prix Plaza for the third consecutive year, the event served as a comprehensive one-stop shop for families preparing for the academic year. Students received backpacks stocked with K-12 school supplies and classroom items, alongside new shoes provided by Clark County and haircut vouchers donated by the Las Vegas Raiders and The Original Barber School. Attendees also accessed on-site healthcare services, including immunizations, sports physicals and vision exams.

Beyond basic supplies, participating families received free books and library cards through the Clark County Library District, signed up for county SafeKey and Recreation programs, enjoyed a free dinner provided by In-N-Out and accessed diapers and wipes for 100 infants through Baby’s Bounty.

“Year after year, our community comes together to make sure children in foster care feel supported and seen, and this year is no different,” said Commissioner Jim Gibson, highlighting the collective effort of residents, businesses and volunteers. Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick noted that the drive aims to provide foster families with essential resources so students can thrive in the classroom. Lori Nelson-Kraft, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, added that F1 staff donated 175 pairs of shoes and volunteered their time to support local youth.

Volunteer engagement and ongoing foster support

The operation was supported by 375 volunteers who assembled personalized packages for each child. Corporate teams contributed significant workforce hours, including 62 volunteers from Southwest Airlines and 48 from JP Morgan Chase. Key sponsors included the Picerne Family Charitable Foundation, Canyon Ridge Church and Trilogy by Shea Homes, working alongside dozens of regional civic and non-profit organizations.

Clark County Family Services emphasized that the need for foster support continues year-round. Residents interested in becoming foster parents or donating items to Peggy’s Attic can find information and scheduling options at clarkcountyfostercare.com.