Eight industry companies and organizations—Gill Studios; TradeNet Publishing Co.; Jack Nadel International; SAAGNY; Specialty Incentives, Inc.; BrandVia Alliance, Inc.; Pilot Corporation of America; and PPAF and GCPPA (combined pledge)—have stepped up their commitments to the professional development and success of the promotional products industry through higher education with pledges to the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) Tomorrow Fund. With these pledges, as well as commitments made earlier in the year, PPEF has received $201,000 in new Tomorrow Fund pledges in 2015.
The Tomorrow Fund was created more than 14 years ago as a means to ensure ongoing funding and support of PPEF scholarship programs promoting education and achievement within the promotional products industry. It allows companies and individuals to pledge donations annually over a six-year period. Gill Studios and TradeNet Publishing Co. are Silver level donors, pledging $30,000; Jack Nadel International, SAAGNY and Specialty Incentives, Inc. are Bronze level donors, pledging $12,000-$15,000; and BrandVia Alliance, Inc.; Pilot Corporation of America; and PPAF and GCPPA are Iron level donors, pledging $6,000.
“The Tomorrow Fund is a key driver in our ability to give more scholarship funding to the incredible students in our industry. We not only increased our awards to $150,000 this year, but also increased our commitment to families with the greatest financial need. It is wonderful to hear comments from students mentioning that they are the first ones in their families to go to college. Truly life changing! This wouldn’t be possible without the multi-year commitments of the generous companies participating in the Tomorrow Fund,” says Pat Dugan, MAS, PPEF chair.
In 2015, PPEF awarded 77 new and 29 renewal scholarships totaling $150,000 to outstanding promotional products industry employees and the children of industry practitioners who displayed remarkable academic achievement, extracurricular participation and community service.
Funded by PPAI and donations from the promotional products industry, the scholarship program enables youths and professionals to continue their education on a collegiate level. The Association and industry patrons have a long-standing commitment of service to the promotional products industry, and this fund supports those who demonstrate the same commitment.
