Gymnast Ali Coles joins Columbus back-to-school giveaway

More than 500 students in Columbus, Ohio, received backpacks, shoes and gift cards at 1st Choice Family Services’ annual back-to-school event on Aug. 1. The agency also tapped Level 10 gymnast Ali Coles as an ambassador, highlighting a community push to ease school-start costs for families supporting people with developmental disabilities.

Why it matters: - The giveaway helped more than 500 students cover school-start costs with backpacks, supplies, shoes and gift cards. - The event targeted families who often face added financial pressure when a child has a developmental disability. - 1st Choice Family Services used the event to combine direct aid with community outreach.

What happened: - 1st Choice Family Services hosted its Annual Back-to-School Event in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, Aug. 1. - More than 500 students left with backpacks packed with grade-appropriate school supplies. - The agency also handed out new shoes and retail gift cards. - Food and drinks were provided free throughout the day. - Ali Coles, a Level 10 gymnast on the elite track and a member of the class of 2029, joined the event as an ambassador. - Coles trains at Buckeye Gymnastics in Westerville under coach Kittia Carpenter. - Coles spent the day on site with staff and met families attending the giveaway.

The details: - 1st Choice Family Services serves individuals with developmental disabilities and the families who support them. - The agency supports people with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, ADHD and Down syndrome from childhood through adulthood. - Services include direct support professional care, remote monitoring, and pre-employment and vocational training. - The organization operates in the Columbus, Westerville and Findlay areas. - 1st Choice Family Services also runs outreach programs in Trinidad and Tobago, the Philippines, South Africa and Bangladesh. - Families can contact the agency at (614) 321-2430, info@1stcfs.org, or through the company’s website. - The organization is already planning a larger back-to-school event for 2027.

Between the lines: - The event went beyond school supplies and functioned as direct relief for households facing layered costs. - Ali Coles’ hands-on role gave the giveaway a youth-facing message about service, discipline and community support. - The agency is using local events to reinforce a broader outreach mission that extends beyond Ohio.

What’s next: - 1st Choice Family Services expects to expand the back-to-school effort in 2027. - The agency will continue its ongoing services and outreach programs across Ohio and overseas. - Families interested in next year’s event can contact 1st Choice Family Services through its phone number, email or website.

The bottom line: - The Columbus giveaway paired practical school aid with community visibility, while positioning Ali Coles as a public-facing advocate for the agency’s mission.