Tag Archives: pay it forward

Wiz Khalifa and AEO Team Up to Help Kids in Need

09.16.2015 By in #AEJEANS Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

For those of you that don’t know, our headquarters is in Pittsburgh, PA, home of the Black and Yellow and one and only, Wiz Khalifa. Since we share the same hometown roots as Wiz, we were super excited to team up with him and be a part of giving back to the local community.

On September 15th, Wiz surprised students at his alma mater, Allderdice High School, along with Pittsburgh Sterrett 6-8 and Pittsburgh Obama to deliver the message that working hard will help you to achieve great things.

Wiz Khalifa

“I’m really happy to give back to the kids in my city.  It’s really important to support Pittsburgh as much as they support me,” said Wiz Khalifa.

In addition to his visit, Wiz donated 1,700 book bags from American Eagle Outfitters to be divided amongst the 30 District schools that serve middle and secondary students.

“We are honored to be partnering with Wiz to make a positive impact in the lives of these students and to help them get the school supplies they need to be successful in the classroom,” said Chad Kessler, American Eagle Outfitters global brand president.

Wiz Khalifa

In response to the donation and visit, Pittsburgh Allderdice Principal Melissa Friez stated, “We are proud to welcome Wiz back to Allderdice.  He is an accomplished artist who is known worldwide, but he has not forgotten his hometown of Pittsburgh.   His donation will be used to help students across the District understand the value of being prepared for school and his commitment to their success.”

 

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Help Us Give 20,000 Back Packs to Students in High-Need Communities

08.06.2015 By in #AEJEANS, culture Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Posted by , SR Managing Director of National Corporate Partnerships at TFA

As we know all too well, students in high-need communities can face many barriers in their pursuit of a high-quality education. Having access to school supplies doesn’t have to be one of them. That’s why American Eagle Outfitters, STATE Bags, and Teach For America are teaming up to give away 20,000 backpacks to students across the country – with your critical support.

For every STATE backpack purchased at American Eagle Outfitters this back-to-school season, we’ll be giving away a backpack to a child in need.  You can click here to purchase the backpacks online or find your local American Eagle Outfitters store here and turn your next shopping trip into one with far-reaching benefits.

Our partnership will equip students across 20 urban and rural communities with the supplies they need to enter the classroom ready to learn. In addition to receiving STATE bags, students at participating schools will also receive essential tools such as pencils, crayons and binders.

AEO blog post photo

In New York and Los Angeles, we’re excited for students to receive their bags during STATE’s signature bag drop events – motivational rallies led by STATE’s dedicated team of “PackMen” and “PackWomen” that leave participating kids with a renewed spirit and belief in themselves. Packmen and Packwomen are experienced child development specialists who grew up in low-income neighborhoods themselves and serve as role models and mentors.

In addition to purchasing bags to support deserving students, you can donate at the register of American Eagle Outfitters stores to support Teach For America. Funds will be matched by the retailer – up to $100,000 – to help Teach For America recruit, train, and place committed individuals to serve in our nation’s highest-need classrooms and open doors of opportunity to students.

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Our three organizations are committed to providing all students with access to opportunities that will allow them to succeed in school and life. We’re thrilled that with your support we can put essential school supplies into the hands of 20,000 students and can help make the 2015-16 school year one that’s filled with endless promise and potential.

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AEO, STATE & Teach for America “GiveBackPack”

08.05.2015 By in #AEJEANS, culture Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Posted by , Co-Founders of STATE Bags

You walk to the register to buy your annual new backpack. The usual scenario plays out. You decide which color suits your vibe, pull it off the rack to check out all the features, throw it on to make sure it’s comfy and then of course casually glance in the mirror. You then decide, “Yup…I’m getting this bag.”

Maybe it’s not a big deal to spend $59. Perhaps you’ve been working all summer to pay for the bag you’ve been coveting since seeing it in the American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) stores. Or maybe it’s a future gift from your parents. Whatever the case may be, we want to say thank you. Because you’re not just buying a backpack for yourself, through your purchase AEO will donate another STATE backpack to a local child in need.

Back in 2009, we created Camp POWER – a nonprofit summer camp for hundreds of kids growing up in Brooklyn’s most underfunded, turbulent neighborhoods. The goal of the program was to get kids out of the loud, hot city. But more than that, we wanted to provide positive role models, and give kids a space to try different things and meet new friends. A place that allows them to simply act their age. So many kids in these neighborhoods grow up far too fast. What our program does is slow down the speed of life, and remind them of their incredible value and remarkable potential.

Each summer, we witnessed countless kids carrying all their belongings in trash bags. It became more and more clear that in addition to a week away from Brooklyn, the kids also needed new bags, new jackets, shoes, and a whole bunch of “stuff.” But we also noticed that “stuff” could only go so far. It was encouragement from aspirational figures and love that would propel them to beat the odds stacked against them. All of this inspired us to create STATE Bags.

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We built STATE on two cornerstones: 1) for every bag sold, one will be donated to an American child in need – bringing the buy one give one model to our own backyard, and 2) providing inspirational role models in the STATE PackMen/Women – young men and women who have successfully risen from the very neighborhoods we help serve. This is what our GiveBackPack Program is all about.

So as you make your way to the register this season with your (very) cool new bag, take pride in the fact that you’re not just wearing a backpack, but a GiveBackPack. A statement that you made a choice to help improve the world around you.

Thank you to American Eagle Outfitters, its millions of dedicated customers, and Teach For America for making our dream come true in donating thousands of brand new bags – packed with supplies donated by AEO associates – to kids across the US this back to school season.

We promise that every purchase makes a difference. STATE and AEO have your back!

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