BIC Graphic North America (PPAI 114187, S13), headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, recently donated 55,176 items to organizations benefiting students and educators in both Florida and Minnesota. Contributions included more than 3,000 backpacks as well as a variety of notebooks, earbuds, headphones, power banks, writing instruments, sport bottles and more.

Partnering with the United Way, BIC Graphic NA gave 400 backpacks to the organization’s annual school supply drive in Red Wing, Minnesota. In Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, BIC Graphic donated 500 sport bottles to the United Way of the Brown County Area after the organization was alerted that many area schools were not permitting the use of water fountains due to COVID-19. The company also supplied backpacks, lunchboxes and school supplies for its Stuff the Backpacks school supply drive.

This marks the second year BIC Graphic NA has worked with Marjorie’s Hope in Port Richey, Florida, this year donating over $61,000 worth of items for local students. Marjorie’s Hope provides children a strong foundation for a happy and successful life by meeting needs for educational supplies, toys and other necessities. BIC Graphic NA and other community supporters are scheduled to fill 2,500 donated backpacks with additional items contributed as part of the organization’s Back to School Program. The supplier also donated 1,000 back-to-school items to students attending Pinellas County Schools.

“One way our employees have chosen to give back to our communities is through supporting early childhood education,” says Melissa Ralston, chief marketing officer of BIC Graphic NA. “Our hope is that these donations will leave a positive, lasting memory for students during this time of uncertainty so they can focus on learning.”

BIC Graphic NA also donated 220 Koozie® Picnic Koolers to the senior class of Red Wing High School this past spring. The items were part of a gift pack for students whose senior year was cut short due to COVID-19, and were handed out to the seniors during a parade last month.