Brentwood, TN. (August 4, 2016) ?" Thanks to Crye-Leike, REALTORS, the children and adolescents in the care of Youth Villages of Middle Tennessee went back to school getting the same fresh start to school as every other student.

Crye-Leike held its 16th annual backpack drive for Youth Villages, collecting over 280 new backpacks, filled with thousands of dollars of required school supplies, all donated by Crye-Leike's sales associates and employees of Middle Tennessee. The drive was held to contribute to Youth Villages' annual Backpack Heroes Program.

Youth Villages (youthvillages.org) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to helping emotionally and behaviorally troubled children and their families live successfully through home-based counseling, therapeutic foster care, adoption services, residential treatment, community-based programs, and crisis and prevention services.

"Most of the young people in our care live well below the poverty line and wouldnt have anything for back to school if it weren't for the generous donations from volunteers and companies like Crye-Leike," said Greg Schott, development manager of Youth Villages of Middle Tennessee. "Backpacks are essential school items that most children take for granted. Crye-Leike is giving these children the chance to feel the same thrill as other students do when having new school supplies to call their own. This gesture also shows the children that they can trust grown-ups who are willing to help and they don't even know.

This year, Youth Villages' Backpack Heroes Program will serve over 800 children in Middle Tennessee in Clarksville, Columbia, Dickson, Cookeville, Linden and Nashville.

"By providing school supplies for these children, Crye-Leike is sending a message that they are important," said Harold E. Crye, co-founder and chief executive officer of Crye-Leike. "A solid education and great schools keep our children and communities thriving and strong. We hope our small efforts help make a big difference in these children's lives."

Crye-Leike (www.crye-leike.com), the nation's sixth largest residential brokerage firm, is a full service real estate company with 20 branch offices and one franchise office in Middle Tennessee.