The "First Day Fund" is an organization of community volunteers pledged to help school-age children begin the first day of school with a chance to be successful. To this end we work to provide essential school supplies to as many needy children as possible.

An estimated 8,000 children in Springfield Schools meet the federal guidelines for free and reduced school lunch programs. A majority of these students enter school without the basic supplies necessary to complete the tasks before them.

The First Day Fund's goal is to provide required school supplies to each eligible student by seeking funds for purchases in bulk and by securing sponsors to adopt individual students.

First Day Fund does not pay salaries or advertising costs, and is not completely dependent on community involvement to attain its goals. All products and/or funds are utilized for the sole purpose of providing school supplies. The number of applications honored is dependent entirely upon community support.