MIAMI – One South Florida organization is making an effort to meet the needs of students getting ready to go back to school.

The Embrace Girls Foundation gave a group of Miami girls a “superhero” welcome as they walked into the media center at Arcola Lake Elementary school in Miami.

“We have it built as a superhero day. Learning is our superpower. So, they are going to get the beginning of their superpower being able to select a backpack and items from this room as many items as they’d like,” said Velma Lawrence, CEO, founder of The Embrace Girls Foundation.

The girls took the message to heart that day and happily chose their new backpacks and other items to start the new school year.

“I got a lot of stuff. I got highlighters, I got notebooks. I got lotion,” said Faith Antrobus.

Since 2000, the foundation has provided after school and mentoring services to girls at several South Florida school sites.

The nonprofit organizes a special “shopping experience” to cap its summer program.

“We’ve done this for the fourth year in partnership with Interiors by Steven G., Crazy Art and Rose Art,” said Lawrence.

This year, Local 10 donated 1,000 new books and teamed up with Five Below to give the organization all types of back-to-school essentials including undergarments, socks and personal hygiene items.

“A child wants to feel good head-to-toe, so we start with the bows to the sneakers. That’s important that they be able to start out school empowered with the things that they need, and they feel good about themselves,” said Lawrence.

Feeling good leads to good grades for both the students and the school.

“We were a C school. We moved to a B, and this year, we are finally an A school. Ms. Lawrence and The Embrace Girls plays a huge part,” said Yolanda Ellis, Principal of Arcola Lake Elementary.

Along with the supplies, the girls went home confident, inspired and ready to realize their dreams. For third grader Fernara Nolton, it very well may be a career in television.

“I am just so happy to be in Embrace Girls,” said Fernara.

The Embrace Girls Foundation shared several emails from parents expressing gratitude for the back-to-school supplies. One parent wrote ” Your help has relieved a considerable burden and ensured they are all well-prepared for their academic journey”.

Local 10 wants to give a special thanks to the viewers and all the sponsors for donating the supplies.

Local 10 wishes all South Florida students the best for the 2024-2025 school year.

For more information about the Embrace Girls Foundation, click on this link.

If you would like to highlight a mom who makes a difference in our community, send us an email at MomToMom@wplg.com.