Schoolchildren wear new backpacks donated by Sutter Health and filled with supplies by Sutter employees.
By Katie Durham, Vitals contributor
Sutter Health’s commitment to community care extends beyond hospital walls, and that’s evident in a big way during the back-to-school season. As families across Northern California prepare for a new academic year, Sutter Health teams are helping ensure students have the tools they need to succeed.
For many children, the start of school brings excitement: new teachers, new friends and new routines. But for others, it can be a time of stress. The cost of school supplies can be a significant challenge, especially for families facing financial hardship.
Backpacks and a Brighter Start
In 2025, Sutter Health employees across the Greater Sacramento, Central Valley and Greater San Francisco and East Bay regions came together to support students through backpack drives, school supply donations and volunteer-powered events. Because of Sutter Health’s efforts, more than 6,750 backpacks — each filled with grade-specific supplies — were distributed through trusted community partners.
Stanford Sierra Youth & Families in Sacramento gathered to say thanks for Sutter’s donation of backpacks for schoolchildren.
These efforts go beyond pencils and paper. They help promote dignity, confidence and opportunity. Research shows that children experiencing poverty or homelessness are less likely to graduate from high school. A new backpack filled with supplies can help close that gap, boosting self-esteem and setting the stage for academic success.
“As a not-for-profit healthcare system, it is our privilege to work side by side with community partners to create healthy neighborhoods across our footprint because we know a person’s health is affected by many factors outside the walls of our care centers,” says Grace Davis, chief external affairs officer at Sutter Health. “Health and education are deeply connected and when we invest in students, we’re investing in whole-person care.”
Regional Highlights: Local Impact, Shared Purpose
Regional initiatives are driven by Sutter Health teams, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to whole-person care and community well-being across Northern California. Through the efforts of its External Affairs team, Sutter Health engages in strategic sponsorships, employee volunteerism and thoughtful community outreach to build visibility and foster partnerships that address local needs.
“Our work is about showing up, building relationships and making sure our presence has a lasting impact,” said Keilani Pineda, External Affairs program manager. “When we combine the passion of our employees with strong community partnerships, we create ripple effects of health and opportunity that benefit everyone.”
Every community where Sutter Health operates has its own unique needs when it comes to health and well-being. Recognizing this, the organization prioritizes listening to and engaging with local voices to better understand how to support whole-person care beyond clinical settings, said Pineda. While each community is different, one common thread is the need to support students. Helping them start the school year strong can have a lasting impact on their overall health, confidence and future opportunities.
Greater Sacramento: Empowering Youth Through Partnership
Operation Backpack, led by Volunteers of America, is one of several long-standing collaborations that reflect Sutter Health’s deep commitment to the greater Sacramento region. The health system sponsored the program, supporting more than 3,000 students, and additionally, team members in greater Sacramento helped collect and distribute more than 350 backpacks to children in need through Volunteers of America.
Sutter employees gather around an overflowing box of filled backpack destined for schoolchildren through the Volunteers of America Operation Backpack campaign.
“Our partnership with Sutter Health has brought more than just backpacks to our VOA kids,” said Ana Bankert, vice president of development and marketing at Volunteers of America. “The partnership has brought confidence and uplifted the entire family. It has given parents and families experiencing homelessness the opportunity to save a little money or spend it on new shoes and other school-related expenses.”
Sutter Health also supported several other organizations in the region, including Yolo County Children’s Alliance, Stanford Sierra Youth & Families and the Sierra Community Medical Foundation.
These partnerships do more than distribute supplies; they empower students to step into the classroom with confidence, dignity and the tools they need to succeed.
Greater San Francisco and East Bay: Building Excitement and Access
In Solano County, Solano Sutter Medical Foundation continued its partnership with the Solano County Office of Education to support the annual Stuff the Bus campaign. The initiative provides essential school supplies to foster and unhoused students, helping ensure every child can start the school year with confidence.
Solano Sutter Medical Foundation staff show off the backpacks for the county Office of Education’s Stuff the Bus campaign that provides backpacks for foster and unhoused students.
Through sponsorship and hands-on volunteerism, Sutter Solano teams help deliver more than just backpacks — they deliver access. Access to opportunity, to learning and to a sense of belonging.
“Back-to-school season is a time of energy and possibility, and partnerships like the one with the Solano County Office of Education allow Sutter teams to meet that moment with real impact,” said Claire Zagata, a medical foundation site supervisor. “By working alongside local teams who know their communities best, we’re able to amplify access to essential school supplies and help spark excitement for the new school year right where it matters most: with students and families.”
By meeting students where they are, Sutter Health and its partners, like the county Office of Education, help remove barriers and create pathways for success because every child deserves a strong start to the school year.
Central Valley: Community Spirit in Action
In the Central Valley, many back-to-school efforts began with the passion and initiative of Sutter Health employees. Team members rallied coworkers, engaged leaders and supported local nonprofits through donations and volunteerism.
At Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, that spirit was on full display. Staff donated more than 800 backpacks filled with school supplies to the Boys and Girls Club of Tracy — from purchasing and packing to personally delivering them. Employees from across the hospital came together to make the donation drive a success, a reflection of their deep connection to the community they serve.
Sutter Tracy Community Hospital employees donated more than 800 backpacks filled with school supplies to the Boys and Girls Club of Tracy.
“Tracy is a close-knit community. Most of us live here, our kids go to school together — this is just what you do,” said Lindsay Hur, director of pharmacy at Sutter Tracy. “As a community hospital, we care for these families every day. It’s incredibly special to know our team comes together for them outside the clinical setting.”
That same spirit extended to Modesto City Schools, where team members from Sutter Gould Medical Foundation and Sutter’s Memorial Medical Center continued a long-standing partnership to support students through backpack donations and volunteer efforts.
These collaborations reflect what community health truly means: removing barriers, promoting equity, and creating opportunities that support the well-being for individuals and families across our communities.
Why It Matters
As a not-for-profit healthcare system, Sutter Health is privileged to collaborate with community organizations and partners who share a commitment to building healthier, more equitable neighborhoods. Initiatives like back-to-school support for students reflect the system’s mission to care for the whole person, recognizing that health is shaped by many factors beyond the walls of its care centers.
By partnering with local community-based organizations, Sutter Health helps close critical gaps in access and opportunity, contributing to both individual and community well-being. Every child deserves to feel excited about learning and supported in their journey. Investing in back-to-school readiness is just one way Sutter Health invests in the future of the communities it serves.
