The CITYPAK Project Distributes over 36,000 Custom Backpacks to Homeless

The CITYPAK Project, a not-for-profit organization that works to distribute custom-designed backpack to homeless throughout the United States and Canada, distributed over 11,000 PAKs in 2016, including return visits to CITYPAK's home town of Chicago, IL, the San Francisco Bay Area, Maui, HI, Detroit, MI, St. Louis, MO, Toronto, Canada, and many others. Working with local partners in each city, The CITYPAK Project has distributed over 36,000 Paks in 86 cities since the organization's inception in 2012.

Designed by CITYPAK's exclusive manufacturing partners High Sierra, the custom backpacks provide a secure place for displaced citizens to hold their belongings, and feature a spacious main compartment for a large amount of items, a hide-away poncho designed to keep both the bag and its wearer dry, a ballistic nylon outer shell strong enough to combat the elements, a synch-top closure for extra waterproofing and anti-theft measures.

Recognized by media including Inc. Magazine, CNN "New Day," MSNBC, San Francisco Chronicle, Toronto Star, Chicago Tribune, The CITYPAK Project got a unique look this past month when multi-platinum recording artist Andy Grammer released the official video for his recent single, "Fresh Eyes." The video documents Grammer's work with the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles, including distributing CITYPAKs to those in need. Watch the video HERE.

CITYPAK Founder Ron Kaplan says, "Giving away backpacks isn't the solution to the complex issue of homelessness facing our country, but it's something we can do to make a small difference for people in this difficult situation."

The public can donate at www.citypak.org to provide a CITYPAK to a neighbor in need. Those who would like to get involved and help a homeless person in their neighborhood, can share their story using the hashtag #OnePakAtATime on Instagram or Twitter. CITYPAK will send them a CITYPAK to give to that person to make life on the streets just a little bit easier for them.

Connect with CITYPAK:
www.citypak.org
facebook.com/citypak
https://instagram.com/citypakproject
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3oThGDxI_9xFLij3r2tvmA
twitter.com/citypakproject

About The CITYPAK Project:
The CITYPAK Project is a not-for-profit philanthropic organization that works to provide custom designed backpacks to homeless persons in need. Working with exclusive manufacturing partner High Sierra, The CITYPAK Project has distributed over 36,000 PAKs to homeless throughout the United States and Canada, including Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; St. Louis, MO; Austin, TX; New Orleans, LA; Vancouver, Canada, Toronto, Canada and many others.

Founded by Chicago businessman and philanthropist Ron Kaplan in 2012, The CITYPAK Project provides a safe, convenient and versatile backpack uniquely designed to meet the constantly changing needs of the homeless. Inspired by the simple desire to create something that would make life on the streets of Chicago a little easier, Kaplan shared his idea with the design team at the international adventure travel gear manufacturer High Sierra. Today, with the help of High Sierra and a growing list of corporate and individual donors and a variety of local and regional non-profit partners, The CITYPAK Project distributes CITYPAKs in growing list of cities across the U.S. The ongoing goal: to design and provide a useful, high-quality backpack for the homeless.

The CITYPAK Project is a program of the Selma Breskin Kaplan Foundation, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation qualified as a tax-exempt private foundation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions to The CITYPAK Project of the Selma Breskin Kaplan Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. www.citypak.org

About High Sierra:
A division of Samsonite LLC, High Sierra designs feature-rich, versatile outdoor lifestyle gear for adventurers everywhere. Since our founding in 1978, we've committed ourselves to creating durable, affordable product with distinctive details, delivering the freedom to go anywhere-near or far, on roads or trails, on mountain ridges or snowy slopes, no matter what form your adventure takes. In 2012, High Sierra formed a design partnership with the Chicago-based CITYPAK Project [501(c)(3)] to create purposeful, utilitarian backpacks for the homeless. High Sierra is also proud to be the Official Bags supplier to the U.S. Ski, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing teams. High Sierra. Adventure This Way. www.highsierra.com

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