Courtesy of the Office Depot Foundation, Sean and his non-profit organization distributed more than 1,000 sackpacks containing essential school supplies and children’s books to DPS students. The event was held in conjunction with Detroit Public Schools’ new “See It Believe It” Retain/Gain Enrollment Campaign launched this summer to ensure the district retains all current students and gains new enrollees. (Photo by Harry Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

DPS alum Big Sean visits DPS schools to distribute sackpacks for back-to-school

DETROIT, MI - Grammy Award winning artist Big Sean, along with his mother Myra Anderson, president of the Sean Anderson Foundation, returned to his hometown on Thursday, August 21, 2014 to provide school supplies at two Detroit Public Schools: Carleton Elementary-Middle School and Blackwell Institute. This year’s giveaway marks the Sean Anderson Foundation’s 2nd annual Back to School Giveback. Courtesy of the Office Depot Foundation, Sean and his non-profit organization distributed more than 1,000 sackpacks containing essential school supplies and children’s books to DPS students and potential new students at Blackwell Institute and Carleton Elementary-Middle School.

Both Cass Technical High School alums shared a positive back-to-school message with DPS parents and students as part of the “See It Believe It” Retain/Gain Enrollment Campaign. The message: Be ready to start school on September 2nd on time, all day, and every day. Both also shared their support for DPS and the high-quality educational programs offered to Detroit students, as well as their personal experiences as former students.

Blackwell and Carleton schools were selected for the special visits on Thursday to help boost enrollment and excitement for the first day of class.


Big Sean said to the students: “You have the power to create anything you want. If you can think it, you’re already on your way to achieving it – whatever that ‘it’ is. Know that you can achieve anything.”  (Photo by Harry Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

“I grew up in this city, just like all of you,” he added. “We have something special about us that no one else has: We were built tough. We’re strong. We’re resilient, and we can overcome anything. So when you grow up to achieve your dream careers, and begin to travel around the world, proudly represent Detroit.”

The event was held in conjunction with Detroit Public Schools’ new “See It Believe It” Retain/Gain Enrollment Campaign launched this summer to ensure the district retains all current students and gains new enrollees. The new branding seeks to demonstrate the school system’s commitment to providing academic programs, initiatives and partnerships – such as with Big Sean and the Sean Anderson Foundation – that families desire, and making strategic decisions to attract and retain families.

“Big Sean, Myra Anderson and the Sean Anderson Foundation are true partners of Detroit Public Schools,” said Jack Martin, DPS Emergency Manager. “We’re always excited to see alumni return to the district to help inspire and motivate our students. Both Sean and Myra truly embody the spirit of coming back and giving back to your community.”

Big Sean and the Sean Anderson Foundation have made it an annual tradition to return to Detroit Public Schools to provide school supplies, help promote positive attendance and share motivational messages with DPS students.

Later in the day on Thursday, Big Sean joined the Office Depot Foundation at the Office Depot store in Oak Park to donate 3,500 sackpacks containing school supplies to Detroit Public Schools and several area nonprofit organizations. The Foundation is donating 350,000 sackpacks to children across the United States and internationally in 2014 through its National Backpack Program.

On June 12 Big Sean served as “Principal for the Day” at Bates Academy, an Excellent Schools Detroit “Top K-8 Recommended School.” Competing against thousands of students from 37 Detroit Public Schools’ middle and high schools, Bates won the Get Schooled Detroit Attendance Challenge this spring for a chance to have Big Sean spend the day with students. In an effort to combat chronic absenteeism across the district, DPS partnered with Get Schooled and its founding partner, Viacom, through the company’s Viacommunity social responsibility umbrella, to offer the Detroit Attendance Challenge in support of the district’s “On Time. All Day. Every Day.” Campaign. More than half of all participating schools posted attendance increases during the challenge.

In 2013, Big Sean returned to Detroit to personally pass out thousands of sackpacks at Eastern Market to DPS students during the district’s Back to School Campaign.