General Mills' Box Tops for Education Program Passes Half a Billion Dollars Donated to Education

Employee Relations, Jobs, Skills and Training

General Mills has hit a significant milestone, with more than a half-billion dollars being donated to schools since the company's Box Tops for Education program's inception in 1996.  More than 80,000 K-8th grade schools have participated in the program, which is a major player in philanthropic giving to schools, and is one of America's largest school earnings loyalty programs.  "Providing children a quality education is a top concern of parents across the U.S. today.  Meanwhile, funding of K-8 schools continues to be challenged," said Mary Jane Melendez, executive director of the General Mills Foundation.  "Box Tops for Education offers parents and kids easy, everyday ways to earn cash for their school to purchase the items they need most—from books to field trips, uniforms to computers, playgrounds and much more."  Each year enrolled schools receive a program kit to help them build their own comprehensive fundraising campaign.  Most schools designate a program coordinator to develop ways to encourage students, parents, school staff and community members to clip Box Tops from participating products and bring them to school.  After the collected Box Tops are sent in to General Mills, the school receives a check, equivalent to 10 cents for every Box Top redeemed.  Schools can earn up to $80,000 per year, and up to $20,000 from the Clip, Marketplace, Reading Room and My Class Essentials programs, to spend on anything they choose.  Thousands of schools have used the cash from Box Tops for Education to purchase items such as computers and computer software, library books, art supplies and playground equipment.  There are more than 200 Box Tops for Education brands participating in the program, including Cheerios, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Ziploc, Hefty, Scott, Land O' Lakes and Motts.  "Box Tops has been a marquee philanthropic program at General Mills for nearly 20 years," added Jacqueline Williams-Roll, senior vice president of global human resources at General Mills.  "I am proud to be part of a company that invests in the education of children in communities across the U.S."