TAMPA, Fla. – Thousands filled Raymond James Stadium Saturday for the fifth annual “Back to School Back,” where families picked up free backpacks loaded with school supplies, got access to free medical services and celebrated the upcoming school year.
“Thirty thousand backpacks, we’re giving away school supplies. We have food. We have fun. We have bounce houses. There’s something here for everyone. When the backpacks are gone, they’re gone.” said Thaddeus Bullard, aka Titus O’Neil, the WWE star who founded the Bullard Family Foundation. “Last year for many teachers was the most challenging year for them, so we want to try to help equip these students, staff and parents with as much as we can on this day.”
In addition to the 30,000 backpacks that were given away, AdventHealth providers were on hand to provide pre-school and pre-sports physicals to ensure children are healthy before the school year begins.
“There’s so much anxiety and so many checkboxes that they have to complete before entering the new school year, so anything that can ease the stress for everyone to complete all those tasks and they can enjoy their weekends, that’s what we’re here to do today,” said AdventHealth Nurse Practitioner Noelle McClellan.
This event started promptly at 9:01 am Titus O’Neil says there is a special reason for this very specific time.
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“What unity stands for. I don’t care what background you come from. I don’t care what political affiliation you’re associated with. I just care that you’re a great human being, and that means unity, all coming together for a cause , a moment, and that’s getting the job done,” O’Neil said.
LINK: For more information about the Bullard Family Foundation, click here.
