Equipped for Success: 3,000 Kids, One Powerful Day
Last updated Tuesday, August 12th, 2025
Hammer’s Great Backpack Giveaway helps thousands of Louisville students head back to school with confidence, supplies, and support.
By the time the gates opened at Lynn Family Stadium, the line of families stretched deep into the parking lot, curving around rows of cars under the summer sun. Moments later, the flood gates opened. Kids and parents made a beeline for the backpack tables, knowing exactly what they came for: a shot at one of 3,000 fully stocked school bags being given away at the 3rd Annual Hammer’s Great Backpack Giveaway.
It was the largest turnout ever seen at the annual event and the fastest backpacks have flown off the tables.
Once families secured their backpacks, they fanned out across the turf, where the stadium’s fan zone had been transformed into something that felt like a back-to-school carnival.
Inflatable bounce houses and yard games kept kids engaged. A six-foot inflatable soccer ball rolled across the field. Volunteers led children through crafts, Plinko, gaga ball, and more. Jugglers taught tricks, a stilt walker waved to the crowd, and bubbles floated overhead. Some kids found puppies to pet; others found t-shirts, music, and photo ops with The Hammer and Stock Yards Bank’s inflatable mascot, Petunia.
“Our goal with this event is simple: help kids show up to school ready and proud. If we can take one thing off a parent’s plate or give a kid a little confidence walking into the classroom, then we’re doing something right.”
That kind of impact doesn’t happen by accident. The move to Lynn Family Stadium took a leap of faith, months of planning, and a team willing to roll up its sleeves to take on new space, new logistics, and even bigger goals.
“You can change the world one person at a time,” said Darryl Isaacs, CEO of Isaacs & Isaacs Personal Injury Attorneys.
Volunteers from across Louisville showed up early to pack backpacks, move pallets of supplies, and help keep everything running smoothly. Atherton High School’s softball team returned this year, arriving hours before the event to pack thousands of bags with practiced efficiency and keep the giveaway area stocked as crowds surged in.
It’s hard to describe the scale until you see it from above: hundreds of families flowing into the stadium, kids walking away with backpacks nearly as big as they are, and laughter echoing across the field.
The need is what keeps this event growing. It’s no secret that many local families struggle to fully equip their kids for the school year, which is what drives Isaacs & Isaacs and Stock Yards Bank to keep showing up.
“We may be in different lines of work, but our goal is the same: helping people through tough moments. Whether it’s guiding someone through a financial decision or standing up for them in a courtroom, Darryl and I both believe in being there when it counts,” said Ja Hillebrand, Chairman & CEO of Stock Yards Bank.
“That’s what this event is. It’s about showing up for our neighbors when they need it most.”
“The backpacks may be gone, but we’re not standing still,” said Isaacs. “When families count on us, we get to work. We’re already planning for an even bigger, better giveaway next year.”
