FPAOS is committed to giving back to the Columbus community – a place where our sons spend a few special years of their lives as members of THE Ohio State University Football team. For the past several years, FPAOS has collected new backpacks for children in need that attend Columbus City Schools.

For the past two years, we have collected over (200) new backpacks that were donated to a local charity called After-School All-Stars Ohio (asasohio.org). They are a chapter of a national organization that provides free comprehensive out-of-school programs for children living in underserved communities and offers children academic help, mentoring, health & fitness, and transformative opportunities. ASAS Ohio partnered with a local school that filled our backpacks with shelf stable food items before they were distributed to the children.

2023 Backpack Drive

We will be once again collecting new backpacks (for children in grades K-8) this year. Backpacks will be donated to After-School All-Stars Ohio. If you would like to contribute to the 2023 Backpack Drive, here are two options for your donation:

• Bring a new backpack to the Family Day at the Shoe in August 2024
• Ship a new backpack directly to After-School All-Stars Ohio (1743 West Lane Ave., Columbus, OH 43221 Attn: OSU Backpack Drive)

If you have any questions about the backpack drive, please contact Gloria Williams (gloriawilliams312@gmail.com).