SANTA ANA, Calif. – AUGUST 7, 2025 – The Orangewood Foundation (Orangewood), the leading provider of youth and young adult services in Orange County, held their Back-to-School Backpack Drive yesterday, which gave away 600 backpacks for youth in need to be able to thrive in the new academic year.
This year, the National Retail Federation, estimates families will spend an average of $858 on school supplies.
For students struggling to make ends meet, including many of the youth Orangewood Foundation serves, these costs can be overwhelming. Each day, approximately 60 young adults (ages 18–24) turn to Orangewood for support—many of whom are transitioning out of the foster care system, in need of housing, or survivors of human trafficking. Unfortunately, access to educational opportunities remains limited for these youth, and the rising cost of school supplies only makes those opportunities feel further out of reach.
As a leading nonprofit in Orange County, Orangewood is driven to provide youth in need with robust educational outcomes to help them succeed. To help address one of the most basic needs of its youth, Orangewood hosted the Back-to-School Backpack Drive which offered backpacks to those within its programs along with youth studying at the Samueli Academy – a charter school which Orangewood originally founded. The backpack drive will also support Orangewood’s Youth Connected Program, which offers teens in foster care with a safe home environment, socio-emotional and academic resources.
“Backpacks are a foundation for a student’s academic success,” said Chris Simonsen, CEO of Orangewood. “Holding a Back-to-School Backpack Drive is the least we can do to help our youth prosper.”
The event not only prepared students for the new academic year but also provided 100 skateboards that were donated from infamous skateboarder, Ryan Sheckler’s brand Sandlot Times, offering increased transportation options for youth to commute to school.
The celebration took place at Orangewood’s headquarters in Downtown Santa Ana. It was supported by volunteers who distributed backpacks and school supplies.
About Orangewood Foundation
Orangewood Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We provide innovative services that uplift and empower young people who face challenges across Orange County and beyond. We are working towards a future where every young person thrives. For more information about Orangewood Foundation’s work or to get involved, please visit www.orangewoodfoundation.org.