Staples Associate Directs $5,000 to Little Kids Rock

Totowa Staples Associate Chooses Non-Profit Organization to Benefit from

Staples Foundation Grant

Verona. NJ (May 12, 2014) – Staples Foundation, the private charitable arm of Staples, Inc., has awarded $5,000 to Little Kids Rock under a  program that lets Staples associates direct donations. The Staples associate who directed the donation, Paul Kneis, is a volunteer with the Little Kids Rock organization.

The Staples Foundation Grant will assist in fulfilling Little Kids Rock’s mission to keep music education in its rightful place in children’s academic lives by preparing teachers to begin Modern Band programs in public schools in underserved communities across the country.  When beginning a new collaboration with a school or school district, or when expanding an existing program, Little Kids Rock provides an initial two-day New Teacher Workshop to recruit, train and equip school teachers to start Modern Band programs. 

Upon completion of the workshop, each new teacher receives curricular materials and a number of instrument credits to obtain guitars, basses, keyboards, drums, etc., to get their classroom rocking right away.  Utilizing Little Kids Rock’s methods and materials, students learn how to play modern music on modern instruments; playing the songs they love while learning about music, performance and self-expression.  The organization’s lesson plans utilize the National Standards for Music Education, build skills sequentially, include cross-curricular components and are easily adapted to meet additional state and district arts standards.  Advanced teaching techniques enable students to learn about themselves while rehearsing, improvising, composing, and performing. 

The grants are part of a philanthropic initiative created by Staples Foundation which allows Staples associates around the world to direct funding to non-profit organizations that are focused on education or job skills. The program encourages local community engagement by awarding larger grants to organizations where associates are highly engaged in volunteering or fundraising – up to $25,000 per organization.

The program, called 2 Million and Change, will award funds to organizations around the world, reaching more than $2 million in grants by the end of the year. In 2013, associates globally directed more than $2.5 million of Staples Foundation grants to 434 local non-profit organizations in 49 states.

“Staples Foundation is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where our associates live and work,” said Katy Dobbs, director of global community and giving for Staples, Inc. “Through our program, we are pleased to support our associates and the local non-profit organizations that matter to them most.”

About Staples Community and Giving

Staples contributes to educational and youth-oriented community efforts, 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 and Staples Foundation have helped more than 6,500 organizations in 26 countries. For more information, visit www.staples.com/community.

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