As families across the country prepare for a new school year, Miracles for Kids helped ease the financial burden for hundreds of families with critically-ill children through its annual Back to School Basket of Miracles program.
Thanks to the generosity of community volunteers, donors, and corporate supporters and partners, 399 Miracles for Kids families throughout Southern California, Northern California, and the Phoenix area received baskets filled with backpacks, school supplies, household essentials, food and seasonal necessities. The annual activity allows parents to focus on their child's medical care instead of the growing costs associated with back-to-school season.
A total of 86 baskets were personally delivered by Orange County community volunteers, while 313 additional baskets were carefully packed and shipped to families outside the local delivery area.
"Every backpack represents so much more than school supplies. It represents relief, encouragement, and the reminder that these families are not facing their journey alone," said Autumn Strier, Co-Founder and CEO of Miracles for Kids. "When a child is battling a critical illness, common expenses like backpacks, school supplies, and household essentials can become overwhelming. Thanks to our incredible volunteers, donors, and sponsors, we were able to lift some of that burden and help hundreds of children start the school year with confidence."
This year's event distributed an impressive amount of donated school supplies, including:
- 943 backpacks
- 2,816 pencils
- 1,224 pens
- 1,062 pocket folders
- Thousands of additional school supplies, household essentials, cleaning products, and food items were included in hand decorated boxes.
Over one hundred volunteers from Orange County and beyond came together for the assembly day on Saturday July 18, 2026 to sort, pack, and prepare nearly 1,000 backpacks and sort thousands of back to school supplies for Miracles for Kids families in need. Community volunteers represented a wide variety of businesses, schools, and community organizations, including the following:
- PIMCO
- NCL Saddleback
- High School Youth Action Team
- Invesco
- National League of Young Men, Tustin
- National Charity League, Orange/ Villa Park
- 360° Miracle
- EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants
- Chinese American Lions Club of Orange County
- National Charity League, Capistrano Coast
- National Charity League, Laguna Beach
- National Charity League, North Tustin
- Santa Margarita Catholic High School
- Tesoro High School
- Girls Lion’s Heart
- Orange Lutheran High School
- Corona Del Mar High School
The event was made possible through the generous continued support of community partners, organizations and sponsors such as:
- Ingardia Bros. Produce Inc. - Fresh Food Sponsor
- Vessel Bags - Backpack Sponsor
- Invesco
- Baby2Baby
- Womble Bond & Dickinson
- Assa Abloy
- Perricone
- Hidden Villa Ranch
- Karina’s Backpack Project
- Takeya
- ITT Connect
- LifeMD
- Campos EPC
- Sprouts
- Bagels and Brew
- Second Harvest Food Bank OC
- United Way
For more than two decades, Miracles for Kids has remained committed to helping families with critically-ill children overcome the financial hardships that often accompany a child's diagnosis. Through programs that provide financial assistance, housing, food, transportation, wellness services, and seasonal support such as this Back to School Basket of Miracles program, Miracles for Kids helps families remain stable so they can focus on what matters most… their child's treatment and recovery. To learn more about Miracles for Kids, volunteer opportunities, or how to support future family programs and events, visit www.miraclesforkids.org.
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ABOUT MIRACLES FOR KIDS: Miracles for Kids is non-profit serving children with life-threatening illnesses and the families that care for them. Launched in 2004 and led by Co-Founder & CEO Autumn Strier for 22 years, the organization creates stability for families that are crumbling from the financial and emotional devastation of fighting for their child's life. With programs providing financial aid, basic needs, housing, and wellness to patients and their families, Miracles for Kids fulfills a mission to help caregivers battle bankruptcy, homelessness, hunger, and depression, so they can concentrate on what matters most. In 2024, 84.2 cents of every dollar collected was spent on programs that directly benefit the families they serve. Based in Orange County, California, Miracles for Kids currently serves families in treatment at CHOC Children’s, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, Rady Children’s, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, By the Bay Health, City of Hope, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Dallas and Phoenix Children’s Hospitals. Follow on Instagram @MiraclesForKids to see how you can make a difference and get involved at MiraclesForKids.org.
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