Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) announced today that for every select up&up school supply purchased at Target stores from July 13 through August 2, Target will donate one school supply item to a student in need. Through these purchases, Target’s goal is to donate up to $25 million in supplies and potentially impact nearly two million kids as they head back to school. up&up is a Target owned brand that offers more than 1,200 everyday essentials from across the store, including a line of colorful and stylish school supplies, at a fraction of the price of national brands.
The program was inspired by Yoobi, a Target-exclusive brand of school supplies with a “One for You, One for Me” mission, and builds on Target’s longstanding community partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation. Target will distribute the school supply donations through the Kids In Need Foundation, which operates a national network of Resource Centers that provide free school supplies for in-need students. The donations will be made to Resource Centers beginning in August and provide an optimized assortment of the school supplies students need for the year ahead.
“For millions of kids living in poverty, the right school supplies often become a luxury instead of a necessity,” said Laysha Ward, president, Community Relations, Target. “We know that giving is important to Target’s guests. This program gives them an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others and set kids up for success through the simple act of buying school supplies.”
Making a Year-Round Impact
Target has a legacy of community giving and has given five percent of its profit – which today equals more than $4 million per week – to communities since 1946. At the heart of this giving is a deeply rooted commitment to education. Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015. According to the National Retail Federation, families with school-age children spend more than $600 on back-to-school purchases. Additionally, the Department of Education has reported that on average, teachers spend $400-$500 out of their own pockets on classroom supplies each year. By giving up to $25 million in supplies, Target will help more students get what they need for the new school year.
In addition, the new Yoobi brand of school supplies is available exclusively at Target and supports the cause year-round. Yoobi’s “One for You, One for Me” mission means that for every Yoobi product purchased at Target, Yoobi contributes a product to a Yoobi Classroom Pack that will be distributed to K-3 classrooms in the U.S. through the Kids In Need Foundation. The Yoobi collection is available in Target stores and on Target.com and features a colorful range of products, including folders, notebooks, pens, and rulers, all for less than $10.
“Yoobi believes that supplies should be within reach of all kids and teachers should not have to purchase those supplies out of their own pockets. This is an issue that can be fixed and it’s an important lesson for kids to learn,” said Ido Leffler, co-founder and CEO, Yoobi. “We’re thrilled to partner with Target, and together with the Kids In Need Foundation, we are poised to make a significant impact on the issue, putting supplies in the hands of kids who need them the most.”
Back-to-School Products & Trends
Families can find a convenient shopping experience and everything on their list at Target, including stylish and affordable school supplies, on-trend apparel for the first-day look, and all of the groceries and essentials for school lunches. Target will carry all of the top national brands – including Crayola and Mead – plus Target’s exclusive brands like up&up, Xhilaration, and Embark.
Top trends this year include:
- Attachable matching accessories to backpacks and lunch boxes
- Colorful supplies, including notebooks and book covers
- Stylish locker accessories like disco balls and metallic mirrors
- Chevron, plaid, camouflage and peace sign patterns
Must-have products include:
- Houndstooth, Peace, Camo and Dinosaur Backpacks, $14.99 each
- Frog and Panda Lunch Boxes, $13.99 each
- Monster, Robot, Owl and Fox Water Bottles, $11.99 - $12.99 each
- up&up School Supplies, $0.31 - $7.29
- Yoobi School Supplies, $0.99 - $9.99
- Slap Bracelet Rulers, $1.99 each
- Magnetic Locker Chandelier, $9.99
- Shag Locker Rug, $5.99
- Texas Instruments 30XIIS Scientific Calculators, $12.99 each
- Cherokee Varsity Jacket, $19.99
- Cherokee Moto Jacket, $19.99
Ways to Save
Families can be confident in the unbeatable prices Target offers on all of their back-to-school needs, including savings through Cartwheel, REDcard Rewards, and Price Match.
- Cartwheel: Target will offer back-to-school Cartwheel collections that feature deals on top products. Throughout the season, families can use the digital savings application to choose from hundreds of offers, share them with friends on Facebook, and earn the opportunity to access more deals.
- REDcard Rewards: REDcard holders will receive five percent off nearly all purchases at Target stores and Target.com, free shipping every day at Target.com and 30 extra days for returns. Through Target's Take Charge of Education program, guests who shop with a REDCard can designate a K-12 school of their choice for Target to donate one percent of their purchases to the school. Since the program’s inception in 1997, Target has donated more than $387 million to approximately 117,000 schools nationwide.
- Price Match Policy: Families can ensure they are getting the best deals with one simple, easy-to-use Price Match Policy that includes matching prices from top online retailers year-round, including Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com and Toysrus.com (including Babiesrus.com).
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,916 stores – 1,789 in the United States and 127 in Canada – and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit through community grants and programs; today, that giving equals more than $4 million a week. For more information about Target’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit target.com/corporateresponsibility.
For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom.
*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.
*For every Yoobi item purchased at a Target store, Yoobi will donate a Yoobi item to Kids In Need Foundation and/or other donation partners for distribution to a classroom in need in the United States. Donated items may include pencils, glue sticks, erasers, rulers, folders, crayons, colored pencils, or other items. Actual items donated are based on classroom need, may differ from the items listed or pictured, and may be of equal or lesser value than the item purchased. This purchase/donation is not tax deductible for Target guests. Yoobi is solely responsible for this program and donations. For details visit http://yoobi.com. Target is not the sponsor of this Program and is not making any donations.