SC Johnson Teams up with City of Racine for Ninth Annual Backpack Giveaway

RACINE, Wis., Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, SC Johnson will be the major sponsor of the ninth annual free backpack giveaway as part of the Racine Mayor's Back-to-School Stay-in-School Festival. All Racine area students are eligible to participate in the program on Monday, August 22, 2011 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Racine's Festival Grounds on the Lake.  Activities will include live entertainment, interactive games and food. One backpack will be available per child, including grade-appropriate school supplies such as pencils, pens, spiral notebooks, folders, crayons and more.

Mayor John Dickert expressed his enthusiasm for the ninth annual program, which has given away more than 10,000 backpacks to-date, saying "I am grateful for our community partners' generous support and investment in our children's education. It truly exemplifies a strong sense of community involvement and support for the city of Racine."

"It makes such an impact when people come together to support the community and its families, especially when it comes to the vitally important need of our children's education," said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO, SC Johnson. "We are thrilled to join forces with our community partners to participate in the Festival again and help students get off to a great start this school year."

Festival volunteers will distribute more than 3,000 supply-filled backpacks this year. No student will be turned away and in the event supplies run out, backpacks will be provided following the event.

"Every summer our students look forward to the Back-to-School Stay-in-School Festival," said Jeff Weiss, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education, Racine Unified School District. "With new backpacks and the proper supplies, the children's enthusiasm is simply contagious. It is the perfect way to start a new school year."

Committed to Community

SC Johnson is committed to supporting the Racine community. Other recent examples include:

• Contribution of $25,000 to the county's 2011 Summer Youth Employment and Training Program that provides work opportunities for Racine County youth.
• Support of the Laurel Clark Memorial Fountain Renovation which brings the fountain up to code and makes it a safe, fun place for children to play and cool down in the summer months.
• SC Johnson Fund Young Leaders Program awards more than $290,000 in scholarships to Racine-area students.

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and pest control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 125-year-old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

CONTACT
Jam Stewart
SC Johnson
[email protected]
262-260-2440

SOURCE SC Johnson