Thursday, October 1, 2026
Wantagh’s John Theissen has seen back-to-school donations to his Children’s Foundation plummet nearly 70 percent this year, with only about a third of the number of sponsorships coming out of its main fundraiser this year.
The number of children sponsored at the foundation’s annual casino night in June dropped from 80 last year to 27 this year. The event, held at the Woodbury Country Club, saw 150 fewer attendees than in past years.
The casino night has been the main source of funding for the 18 years that the John Theissen Children’s Foundation has raised money for an annual back-to-school drive for disadvantaged children.
Theissen, executive director and founder of the JTCF, said, “The program is always off to a slow start,” but this year’s anticipated collection of $30,000 is $40,000 less than past years.
The annual drive provides Long Island children from low-income families, in grades kindergarten to 12, with school supplies for the upcoming school year. People can also sponsor a child with a $150 donation, which provides the student with a new outfit, including shoes, pants, shirt, jacket and underwear, as well as a backpack filled with new school supplies to start the school year. Donors can choose to sponsor a boy or a girl.
The children will get to choose their favorite color, clothing and shoe size, and whether they prefer dressy clothes or sportswear.
“Every child should have a chance to attend school and feel good about themselves,” Theissen said. “Studies have shown that many children do not attend the first day of school because they are too embarrassed that they do not have new supplies and clothing. New clothes and school supplies are all significant items for a child who would otherwise go without.”
Theissen said he believes the significant drop in the school-supply drive this year can be attributed to people donating to other charities or having previously given to some of Theissen’s prior events and fundraisers earlier this year.
“Everyone can only give so much,” Theissen said. “I’m hoping [the drive’s donations are] going to pick up.”
Theissen said about 80 percent of the children taking part in the program are “severely underprivileged,” while about 20 percent have medical needs. Social and caseworkers refer children to the JTCF. All referrals come from the school districts and social workers before donations can be given out, he said.
Theissen said it’s sad that a few years ago, the program was able to purchase many gift cards to clothing stores for the children and now can buy only half that number. “We used to be able to help out over 500 kids with gift cards and backpacks,” he said.
Some children who the program helps want winter coats instead of video games, according to Theissen. He said that some children are unable to attend the first day of school because of a lack of proper clothing. Some children belong to severely impoverished families, such as a family Theissen came across a few years ago living in a tent in someone’s backyard in Levittown, he said.
“The purpose of the program is to make the child . . . feel good about themselves by giving them a backpack and school supplies,” he said.
The foundation is still accepting new school supplies such as backpacks, folders, spiral notebooks, marble notebooks, loose-leaf binders, crayons, markers, colored pencils, pencils, ballpoint pens, rulers, pencil cases, scissors, glue sticks, glue and tissues until Sept. 12. Donations can be brought to the JTCF’s Wantagh location at 1881 Wantagh Ave.
Theissen said that most donations will go out to children on about Sept. 3.
Forms to sponsor a child, as well as more information about the school drive, are listed on the foundation’s website, www.jtcf.org.
