The Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF), the industry’s nonprofit dedicated to recognizing and encouraging scholastic excellence and academic performance among promotional products industry employees and their college-aged children, will award a record-breaking $276,750 in scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year. This brings the total amount awarded since PPEF’s founding to more than $2.4 million.
“PPEF is able to provide more scholarships to industry college students and their children each year. I’m more than thrilled that PPEF awarded a record number of scholarships through this pandemic,” says PPEF Board Chair Dana Porter. “PPEF is now awarding two-thirds of its funding to students who qualify for financial need. The scholarships provide much-needed funds to cover the increasing costs of earning a college degree. This year more than ever, students and their families need additional support to attend college and thankfully PPEF can be that outlet. Our industry is like a large family and being able to help the next generation go to college is an important part of what brings us together. I want to thank PPEF’s donors for providing their generous and inspirational support to the next generation.”
This year, PPEF is awarding 127 new and 33 renewal scholarships to selected recipients who have displayed remarkable academic achievement, extracurricular participation and community service. Each will receive between $1,000 and $9,000 to support their college educations. Since PPEF was founded in 1989, it has awarded $2,448,000 million in financial assistance to 1,358 recipients.
“PPEF continues to focus on investing in the education of the children whose families make up the fabric of the promotional products industry,” says David Grobisen, vice chair of the PPEF scholarship committee. “We receive and review hundreds of applications each year from deserving students with higher aspirations for themselves and their communities. When I think about the events taking place today, investing in our youth, the country’s future, takes on an even greater weight. The financial impact of the pandemic cannot be overstated and the contributions from the members of the promotional products community supporting the efforts of the PPEF to invest in our children, especially now, is an endeavor worthy of our industry.”
Funded by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) and generous donations from companies and individuals within the promotional products industry, the scholarship program enables youth and professionals to continue their education at the 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.
The full list of 2020 scholarship recipients is available here, along with details on how to help support PPEF and its scholarship program.
