HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. - The first day of school at Valley Vista High School (VVHS) began like any normal first day, but students were soon met with a surprise. Tilly’s Life Center stopped by campus to supply each student with a free backpack stuffed with school supplies.

In the spirit of “I Am Giving”, Tillys retail chain partnered with Tilly’s Life Center to provide back-to-school basics to local high schools, which included VVHS. As students left their classrooms to enjoy their lunch break, they began flocking over to the Tilly’s Life Center table curious about all the commotion. Every student at VVHS (about 350 students) was generously gifted a backpack of their choice full of school supplies. The students were extremely grateful, with excitement clearly shown on their faces. One student shared they “felt a sense of dignity that someone thought about [them]".

Jessie Marion, Ed.D., VVHS Principal, stated, “We are so grateful for our partnership with Tilly’s Life Center and for all they do for our students. This backpack giveaway brought a lot of excitement to campus and allowed our students to feel cared about and supported as we start the new school year.”

“This is one of the many ways we can give back to our TLC teens outside of the classroom,” Beth LaVallee, Tilly’s Life Center Training Manager, expressed. “We love our partnership with Tillys and the support they provide to our TLC students. It is so rewarding to have this positive impact on them!”

The Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD) is so grateful to Tillys and Tilly’s Life Center for their generosity and support toward VVHS.

More photos can be found in the HBUHSD Pixieset Album.