FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia Invites 6th – 12th Graders to Back the Bell, a Fundraising Initiative That Engages Students In a Design Competition
One winning student design will be featured on merchandise available for purchase for all Philadelphians. All proceeds will go to support Philadelphia’s public schools.
Philadelphia, PA – September 3, 2025 – The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia is encouraging students across the district in grades 6 to 12 to kick off the 2025-2026 school year with creativity and school spirit with its Back the Bell Design Competition. The winning student design will be announced in October and ultimately displayed on merchandise for all Philadelphians to purchase and sport on Back the Bell Day in November.
From Wednesday, September 3, until Thursday, October 9, the Back the Bell design competition invites young creatives to design an original graphic inspired by the District’s “I AM SDP” campaign. The competition seeks designs that highlight what the School District of Philadelphia means to students, families, teachers, staff, community members, and supporters – bearing in mind that you don’t have to be part of the District to appreciate its positive impact on our city and its people.
“I AM SDP is all about celebrating the collective pride of our students, employees, graduates, and supporters,” said Kathryn Epps, President and CEO of the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia. “For Back the Bell this year, we’ve chosen I AM SDP as the inspiration for the design competition to give our young people the chance to showcase, through their own designs, what public education in Philadelphia means to them.”
Graphics must be original, but most of all, each submission should be a fresh, fun, and unifying design that celebrates public education in Philadelphia.
The public will be invited to vote for submitted designs from Friday, October 10, until Sunday, October 18, at thefundsdp.org/backthebell. Proceeds from the sales go to support Philadelphia’s public schools.
Formerly known as Dress Down Day for Philly Public Schools, Back the Bell is one of The Fund’s signature fundraising initiatives that effectively engages students in its efforts to raise attention and dollars for our schools. Since 2018, the competition has raised over $170,000 through merchandise sales to help enrich the lives of district students by funding field trips, STEM supplies, updated technology, library books, and much more.
Every year going forward, The Fund will introduce a new Back the Bell design theme.
For more information about the competition, visit thefundsdp.org/backthebell.
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About the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia
As the only fundraising organization with a direct understanding of the needs of students and families in Philadelphia’s traditional public schools, The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia works to put an excellent public education within reach of every child in Philadelphia by aligning philanthropic and private sector dollars with district priorities to advance academic achievement. To learn more, visit thefundsdp.org.
Media Contact:
Megan R. Smith
Brownstone
215.410.9879
megan@brownstonepr.com
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