ATLANTA, 2016-Jul-15 — /EPR Retail News/ — Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are teaming up this summer to help prevent summer learning loss for thousands of kids and teens. To celebrate National Summer Learning Day on July 14th, over 150 Staples volunteers in 17 communities including Boston, New York, and Denver, will participate in one-to-one or group reading sessions with local youth.
Each summer in America, an estimated 43 million children miss out on expanded learning opportunities that could prevent them from falling behind in school. To help kids stay on track and graduate from high school on time, Boys & Girls Clubs of America developed Summer Brain Gain – a learning loss prevention program – to keep youth learning over the summer months in a fun, hands-on way. While the average student loses approximately one month of learning, the average Summer Brain Gain participants did not.
Supporting the Summer Brain Gain program for the third year, Staples increased its efforts through a book drive earlier this year with Staples locations in more than 40 cities collecting over 8,800 books for their local Club. To honor National Summer Learning Day, over 150 Staples volunteers will visit a local Boys & Girls Club to help reinforce a passion for reading and be positive role models for Club youth.
“Staples and its associates are passionate about improving education and providing our nation’s youth with resources they need to succeed,” said John Burke, Chief Culture Officer, Staples. “By partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we’re helping ensure Club kids and teens stay on track for the coming school year.”
Staples has proudly supported Boys & Girls Clubs of America since 2002. During that time, Staples Foundation has committed more than $10 million dollars in grant support for their programs. Staples also provides incremental support to BGCA through other channels, including product donations and volunteers.
“Summer learning loss can have a detrimental impact on our youth, causing kids and teens to fall behind, endangering their chances of graduation and a path to future success,” said Edwin Link, National Vice President of Educational Foundations & Academic Innovation with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Boys & Girls Clubs of America is committed to ensuring America’s kids and teens graduate from high school on time, college or career ready. Thanks to Staples, this summer we’re helping impact even more youth at thousands of Clubs around the country.”
About Staples, Inc.
Staples retail stores and Staples.com help small business customers make more happen by providing a broad assortment of products, expanded business services and easy ways to shop, all backed with a lowest price guarantee. Staples offers businesses the convenience to shop and buy how and when they want – in store, online, via mobile or though social apps. Staples.com customers can either buy online and pick-up in store or ship for free from Staples.com with Staples Rewards minimum purchase. Expanded services also make it easy for businesses to succeed with in-store Business Centers featuring shipping services and products, copying, scanning, faxing and computer work stations, Tech Services, full-service Print & Marketing Services, Staples Merchant Services, small business lending and credit services.
Staples Business Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, Inc., helps mid-market, commercial and enterprise-sized customers make more happen by offering a curated assortment of products and services combined with deep expertise, best-in-class customer service, competitive pricing and state-of-the-art ecommerce site. Staples Business Advantage is the one-source solution for all things businesses need to succeed, including office supplies, facilities cleaning and maintenance, breakroom snacks and beverages, technology, furniture, interior design and Print & Marketing Services. Headquartered outside of Boston, Staples, Inc. operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. More information about Staples(NASDAQ: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com.
About Staples Community and Giving
Staples contributes to educational and job-related community efforts with a primary focus on disadvantaged youth, from literacy and mentoring to career skills development, through in-kind and monetary donations and grants from Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc. Through its community and giving efforts, Staples has helped thousands of organizations in 26 countries. For more information, visit http://www.staples.com/community.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.
Learn more at bgca.org/facebook and bgca.org/twitter.
Contacts:
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Sara Leutzinger
404-487-5624
SLeutzinger@BGCA.org
Staples, Inc.
Stephanie Hunt
508-253-2045
Stephanie.Hunt@Staples.com
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- Staples volunteers to participate in reading sessions with local youth as part of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Summer Brain Gain program
Source: Staples, Inc.