KLRN’S BACK TO SCHOOL BASH SEES HIGHEST-EVER TURNOUT

 The free event saw over 9,000 attendees, with hundreds of supplies distributed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN ANTONIO, TX–AUGUST 1, 2025 – To prepare for the upcoming school year, KLRN, in collaboration with the San Antonio Food Bank, hosted a free Back to School Bash on Saturday, July 19th. This year’s event drew 9,000 people (5,000 of which were children) throughout the day, breaking previous attendance records. 

KLRN gave away a total of 900 backpacks and 500 pencil pouches to local students entering grades K-12. Teachers also felt the love as volunteers distributed 200 notebooks, 200 pencil pouches, and 100 bags to help them prepare for the new school year.

Along with the distribution of backpacks and supplies, fifty organizations contributed to the event with additional school supplies, community resources, and free activities for those in attendance. The day featured other special events like a colorful dance performance from Grupo Folklórico Bendiciones, a mini petting zoo hosted by Once in a Wild, and free kids’ haircuts by cosmetology students from Edgewood ISD’s Fine Arts Academy.  

“It was so rewarding to witness the impact of this year’s Back to School Bash”, said Melissa Galvan, KLRN’s Vice President of Education. “Many families benefited from the resources provided at this event - whether through a health screening, connecting with a nonprofit, or receiving a free children’s book. Being able to provide so many of our friends and neighbors with information, school supplies, and community resources throughout the day – and knowing that we reached an even higher number of people this year – reminds us why we do this work.”

KLRN’s Back to School Bash was made possible thanks to generous support from the San Antonio Food Bank, United Way, HOPES, Dual Generation, the San Antonio Medical Foundation, and H-E-B.

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About KLRN

KLRN is PBS, the public television station for South Central Texas, broadcasting to a 33-county radius from San Antonio to Laredo and surrounding areas. The mission of KLRN is to open a world of lifelong learning through trustworthy and enriching programs on-air, online, and in our community- through four broadcast channels, digital platforms, and community engagement events. Learn more at klrn.org.

 About the San Antonio Food Bank

The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501c3 non‐profit organization providing millions of pounds of food to over 530 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas serving those in need. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger but help individuals and families gain long‐term food security. For more information about the San Antonio Food Bank, visit our website at www.safoodbank.org