Setting up students for school success

Event: Back-to-school supplies packing with Chicano Federation of San Diego County 

Location: San Diego, California 

Date: August 2024 

Exact Sciences’ involvement: Serving more than 100,000 people each year, Chicano Federation is dedicated to creating impactful changes in the day-to-day lives of San Diego families. Team members from Exact Sciences’ local office joined the federation’s effort to provide 1,000 students with needed supplies for back-to-school time. Volunteers from Exact Sciences packed new backpacks with folders, pens, pencils, and more to get ready for a large giveaway event.  

Exact Sciences also contributed $5,000 to help fund the event. 

Impact: Students and their families attended the event to collect the backpacks, along with free books and other household necessities, including food, diapers, and feminine products. The goal was to give kids an equal chance for success during the school year, helping ensure that they don’t fall behind because they lack basic resources.  

From the Exact Sciences team: Tammy Halloran, a guest experience specialist at Exact Sciences, says that local news coverage of the event made it possible for volunteers to see the kids’ excited reactions to their new backpacks and school supplies. 

Halloran says it makes her proud that Exact Sciences supports team volunteering. Every year, the company provides each employee with 16 hours of paid time off to volunteer. 

“I know several people who have said they wish their companies would do this,” she says. “I think it’s great that Exact Sciences does this. It shows that we care about the community.”