From left are John Mika, director of The Teacher’s Desk; Lesley Walton, manager of gift-in-kind and volunteer coordinator, KINF; Carol Gauger, MAS, and Dave Smith, executive director, KINF.

From left are John Mika, director of The Teacher’s Desk; Lesley Walton, manager of gift-in-kind and volunteer coordinator, KINF; Carol Gauger, MAS, and Dave Smith, executive director, KINF.

Carol Gauger, MAS, PPAI’s director of member engagement and regional relations, delivered an education presentation, The Proven Power of Promotional Products, during the Kids In Need Foundation National Network Summit in Westlake, Texas on June 23. The interactive presentation introduced attendees to the uses, value and importance of promotional products as a powerful marketing tool. Audience members were those who operate teacher resource centers nationwide as well as individuals responsible for fund-raising programs for the Ohio-based nonprofit.

Since 1995, the Kids In Need Foundation has provided free school supplies to children in underprivileged schools across the U.S. PPAI has supported KINF’s mission and programs since 2007, including working with the organization to collect donated products following The PPAI Expo each year. In the past nine years, KINF has collected nearly $300,000 worth of products that are then made available to schools through the teacher resource centers.

The KINF accepts product donations year round, and almost all categories of promotional products can be used within the classroom. Misprints, outdated showroom samples and warehouses filled with unwanted products can make a difference in underprivileged schools. Find the product donation form here and learn more about the organization here.