As school students across the Carolinas prepare to go back to school, they're getting help with school supplies courtesy of The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation (DNTF), the Carolina Panthers, and Classroom Central. According to a Carolina Panthers news release, DNTF and the Panthers provided funding for backpacks and school supplies for 45,000 students as part of the fifth annual Backpacks & Basics initiative hosted by Classroom Central. Tepper Sports & Entertainment CEO and Carolina Panthers President Kristi Coleman joined the volunteers in the packing process. "Educational opportunity begins with listening to communities and investing in solutions that respond to what students and teachers need," said Nicole Tepper, co-founder of The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, in a statement shared within the release. "Our partnership with Classroom Central combines its trusted regional expertise with the reach and resources of DNTF and the Carolina Panthers.