"Getting back to school safely this fall means having a mask to wear. I am really excited to be teaming up to donate masks to every single student in an underserved school district in our country."
— Serena Williams, professional tennis player and philanthropist
NSBA has teamed up with BELLA+CANVAS, a leading manufacturer of premium wholesale clothing, and Serena Williams to donate millions of masks to support the more than 54 million students returning to school.
With the help of BELLA+CANVAS and Serena Williams, NSBA will supply each of our 49 state member associations and the U.S. Virgin Islands with 80,000 masks to distribute to underserved communities and districts.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to bring new challenges to our schools. NSBA wants to lessen the burden schools must bear as they navigate the demands for opening safely. This program provides quick access to breathable, comfortable face masks at a massive scale to school districts nationwide.
"Public schoolchildren living at or below the poverty level face many challenges that the pandemic has only exacerbated. We greatly appreciate BELLA+CANVAS and Serena Williams' support and investment in their safety and continued education."
— Anna Maria Chávez, NSBA executive director & chief executive officer
BELLA+CANVAS also collaborated with Scholastic to produce CDC-approved educational resources. These age-appropriate resources focus on the importance of wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing, and protocols for educators and administrators for staying safe during COVID-19. NSBA will provide all districts with access to the digital resources.
