BOROUGH PRESIDENT GIBSON JOINS MONTEFIORE EINSTEIN AND ANTHEM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FOR ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH & LITERACY FAIR

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Bronx, NY - On Thursday, August 8^th from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson joined Melissa Cebollero, Associate VP, Office of Community Affairs for Montefiore Einstein; Dr. Mark Levy, President and CEO of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield; Pat Ireland, Regional Sales Manager for Newline Interactive; Mark Russo, Regional Sales Manager for Newline Interactive; and Alex Galvagni, CEO at Age of Learning for her Annual Back to School Health and Literacy Fair held at P.S. 65 Mother Hale Academy located at 677 East 141^st Street.

"By providing backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, and other services for our youth, we're not just preparing our students for a new school year- we're investing in their future." said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "Every child deserves the tools and support they need to succeed, and it's our responsibility to ensure they start this school year with confidence and readiness. I want to thank Montefiore Einstein, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Age of Learning, and Newline Interactive for their partnership on this event."

Along with the distribution of backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils, the event also featured free health screenings and haircuts courtesy of Montefiore Einstein.

"For more than a decade Montefiore has worked with the Bronx Borough President's office on back-to-school initiatives as part of our commitment to providing holistic care that extends beyond our hospital walls," said Melissa Cebollero, Associate VP, Office of Community Affairs, Montefiore Einstein. "Through this partnership to provide free haircuts for students, we're ensuring children in our community begin the new school year with a positive self-image, setting them up for success, and supporting Bronx families' overall health and well-being."

"Community-wide partnerships are like a tapestry, where each thread strengthens and supports the others, creating a vibrant, more resilient fabric," said Dr. Mark Levy, President and CEO, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "The Back to School Health & Literacy Fair exemplifies this beautifully, weaving together health, education, and community support. It's precisely why Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is proud to join forces with Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson in this vital initiative, ensuring every student has the resources they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom."

Sponsors of the 2024 Back to School Health and Literacy Fair were Newline Interactive and Age of Learning that donated 5,000 books for distribution at the event.

"At Age of Learning, we're deeply committed to fostering a love of learning and supporting educational opportunities for all children," said Alex Galvagni, CEO at Age of Learning. "Our donation of 5,000 ABCmouse books to the Bronx Borough's Back-to-School event provides students with engaging reading materials that we hope will inspire curiosity, spark imagination, and set the foundation for lifelong learning. We're proud to help ensure more children have the resources they need to begin the school year successfully."

"Today, Newline had the honor and privilege of supporting the Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson's Back-to-School event," said Mark Russo, Regional Sales Manager for Newline Interactive. "Together, with the help of district staff and other community members, we were able to pack backpacks for hundreds of students in need. We were excited to be a part of this initiative aimed at starting the year strong with some help from Newline."