This year, students and teachers are facing added stress and anxiety as they navigate virtual learning or a different kind of in-person experience at school. JCPenney wants to help students reach their true potential by providing essential community support and inspiring the belief that, no matter what the school year brings, they are ready for anything.

To kick-off our Ready for Anything Challenge, we partnered with the The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation to surprise Boys & Girls Clubs students in Atlanta, Dallas, Orlando, and Los Angeles with a virtual mentoring session and meet-and-greet with Shaq, plus a surprise donation of $20,000 in JCPenney gift cards – $5,000 per club – to purchase school essentials.

Now, here’s where YOU come in: we’re keeping up the goodwill and promoting positivity by asking our associates and customers to take one of the following simple actions between Sept. 1-15 to give back and support local students as they head into the 2020-21 school year.

Inspire

Share words of encouragement with a student in your community.

Handwrite a note, send a virtual video message, or give a pep talk to a student as they head into a different kind of school year.
 

Listen

Lend a supportive ear.

Ask an educator how they are feeling going into an unprecedented school year and how you can best support them.
 

Donate

Give supplies, money, or gently used clothing to a local school or nonprofit.

Contact your local after-school programs, libraries, nonprofits, or shelters to ask what specific items they need or how you can make a monetary donation.
 

Volunteer

Give your time and energy in-person or virtually.

Explore volunteer websites to get connected in your community, like Points of Light, Voly.org, or Volunteer Match.
 

Mentor

Share a story with a student about how you persevered through challenging circumstances.

Check out a local organization like After-School All-Stars, the Boys & Girls Clubs, Step Up, or the YMCA to find mentor opportunities.

Be sure to share your actions and follow the #ReadyforAnythingJCP hashtag on our social channels for a chance to be featured and inspired! Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

About the Organizations

The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation creates pathways for underserved youth, to help them achieve their full potential. The Foundation works to instill hope and bring change in communities, collectively shaping a brighter future for our children. JCPenney was an inaugural supporter of the Foundation when it launched in 2019.

 

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America exist to enable all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.