As back-to-school season approaches, students, teachers and parents are busy prepping for another school year. According to the National Retail Federation, families with school-age kids spend more than $600 on back-to-school purchases, and the Department of Education has reported that on average, teachers spend $400-$500 out of their own pockets on classroom supplies each year. That’s a big budget, and one not every family and teacher can afford.

“For millions of kids living in poverty, the right school supplies often become a luxury instead of a necessity,” says Laysha Ward, president, Community Relations, Target.

To help more students get what they need for the coming school year, Target announced that for every select up & up school supply purchased at stores from July 13 through Aug. 2, we'd donate one to a student in need.* More than 300 products were eligible, including pencils, paper, crayons, paints, chalk, glue, scissors and staplers.

We set a goal to donate $25 million in supplies to the Kids In Need Foundation through the program—enough for potentially up to 1.8 million kids. On Aug. 2, we officially reached that goal, making this the largest cause campaign donation Target has ever made to a single organization. It's an important milestone on our way to giving $1 billion for education by the end of 2015.

“We know that giving is important to our guests, and they tell us that education is their No. 1 social concern,” says Laysha. “This program gives them an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others through the simple act of buying school supplies.”

Visit Target.com/GiveSupplies to learn more about the program and watch the milestone videos, and read a Q&A with Laysha at A Bullseye View, Target’s online magazine. Check out the Education pages to learn more about our support programs and activities that benefit education.

*For each select up&up brand back-to-school item purchased at a U.S. Target store from July 13, 2014 through August 2, 2014, Target will donate one up&up or Yoobi brand back-to-school item to Kids In Need Foundation; total maximum donation (retail value): $25 million. www.kinf.org Types of items donated may include pencils, erasers, notebooks, pencil sharpeners, glue, rulers, folders, scissors, pencil cases, crayons, markers, pens, and/or possibly other items. Actual items donated may be based on classroom need, may differ from items listed/pictured, and may be of equal or lesser value than items purchased. This purchase/donation is not tax deductible for Target guests. For more information, visit target.com/givesupplies.

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