KARINA’S BACKPACK PROJECT (KBP), FISCALLY SPONSORED BY THE JOY OF SHARING FOUNDATION, WAS FOUNDED BY KARINA TARSADIA TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS START THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH CONFIDENCE, EXCITEMENT, AND THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.

THE INSPIRATION FOR KBP BEGAN LONG BEFORE ITS OFFICIAL LAUNCH. AS A YOUNG GIRL, KARINA HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO INDIA, CAMBODIA, AND AFRICA ON SERVICE TRIPS WITH HER FAMILY’S TARSADIA FOUNDATION. DURING THESE TRIPS, SHE WITNESSED BOTH THE HARSH REALITIES OF POVERTY AND THE UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT OF THE COMMUNITIES SHE VISITED. SHE SAW CHILDREN HER AGE WHO, DESPITE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, RADIATED HOPE AND DETERMINATION. KARINA REALIZED THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A BACKPACK FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES COULD MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE—NOT JUST IN PROVIDING THE TOOLS FOR EDUCATION, BUT IN HELPING STUDENTS FEEL SEEN, VALUED, AND CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING THEIR DREAMS.

WITH HER FAMILY’S STRONG EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION, SERVICE, AND OPPORTUNITY, KARINA LAUNCHED THE FIRST KBP EVENT, DISTRIBUTING 5,500 BACKPACKS TO STUDENTS, ALONG WITH GROCERIES, HAIRCUTS, AND MEALS FOR THEIR FAMILIES. WHAT STARTED AS A SINGLE EVENT QUICKLY GREW INTO A MOVEMENT, PROVING THAT WHEN A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER, THE IMPACT IS IMMEASURABLE.

SINCE ITS FOUNDING, KARINA’S BACKPACK PROJECT HAS PROVIDED 80,960 BACKPACKS TO STUDENTS ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND. EACH BACKPACK IS MORE THAN JUST A BAG—IT’S A SYMBOL OF OPPORTUNITY, EMPOWERMENT, AND HOPE. THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THIS SIMPLE GIFT HAS BEEN PROFOUND: STUDENTS WALK INTO THE CLASSROOM WITH CONFIDENCE, FAMILIES FEEL SUPPORTED, AND COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER WITH A SHARED COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION.

BUT KBP’S IMPACT DOESN’T STOP AT BACKPACKS. DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, KARINA AND HER TEAM RECOGNIZED ANOTHER NEED: SPREADING JOY TO CHILDREN DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THAT YEAR, KBP LAUNCHED ITS ANNUAL HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE, WHERE CHILDREN CREATE A WISH LIST AND RECEIVE A TOY SPECIALLY SELECTED JUST FOR THEM. TO DATE, 5,000 TOYS HAVE BEEN GIFTED TO FAMILIES, ENSURING THAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT, WARMTH, AND MAGIC.

IN A MILESTONE MOMENT, KBP EXPANDED INTERNATIONALLY WITH ITS FIRST BACKPACK GIVEAWAY IN GUJARAT, INDIA—THE PLACE WHERE KARINA’S FAMILY’S JOURNEY BEGAN.RETURNING TO HER FAMILY’S ROOTS AND GIVING BACK TO THE VERY COMMUNITY THAT SHAPED THEM WAS DEEPLY PERSONAL. IT WAS A POWERFUL REMINDER THAT THE SPIRIT OF GIVING KNOWS NO BORDERS.

AT THE CORE OF KARINA’S BACKPACK PROJECT IS THE BELIEF THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE CHANCE TO DREAM BIG. THE FOUNDATION OF THIS MISSION IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO KARINA, SHAPED BY THE WORDS OF HER GRANDFATHER:

“IF YOU GIVE, MAKE SURE YOU GIVE FROM YOUR HEART.”

INSPIRED BY HIS WISDOM, KARINA MADE IT HER MISSION TO GIVE NOT JUST MATERIAL SUPPORT, BUT HOPE, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND A BELIEF IN EVERY CHILD’S POTENTIAL.