Sundance is proud to announce that we have joined with our partner Essendant to take part in the 2022 Backpack Program. Our recipients this year are KIPP Tulsa and KIPP OKC, two local charter schools that help students from the local Tulsa and Oklahoma City communities. Sundance is awarding each of them with 50 backpacks stuffed to the brim with school supplies like glue, erasers, scissors, notebooks, pens, and more.
About KIPP
KIPP, which stands for “Knowledge Is Power Program” was started in 1994 by Mike Feinberg and Dave Levin, who had previously worked for Teach For America. They created KIPP, “to create a classroom that helped children develop the knowledge, skills, character, and habits necessary to succeed in college and build a better tomorrow for their communities.”
Not only did they succeed in that, but KIPP now has 270 schools in 21 states across the nation. There are no admission requirements, no tuition fees, and students are taught to be critical thinkers, creative souls, and inquisitive scholars.
About KIPP Tulsa and KIPP OKC
KIPP Tulsa, founded in 2004, is a college prep program for students in grades 5 through 12. They are strongly rooted in Tulsa, with many teachers and leaders being native Tulsans, themselves. One of their educators, in fact, is a graduate of the very first class of students from KIPP Tulsa. KIPP Tulsa is proud to have an award-winning Showtime Marching Band.
KIPP OKC, founded in 2002, teaches students from grade 4 through 8, with a special focus on social emotional learning. Their campus core values are Creativity, Voice, Hope, Community, and Love. They, and every other KIPP school, have a high expectation of their scholars and reach those goals through personalized learning approaches and support.
