GREENVILLE, Wis., April 14, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- School Specialty, Inc. (OTCQB:SCOO) ("School Specialty" or "the Company"), a leading distributor of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace, today announced the Company's continued support of Habitat for Humanity in the Greater Fox Cities Area through its yearly warehouse sale events, two of which recently took place in Appleton, WI. Approximately $500,000 in school and office supplies were donated for the two-part March sale to help raise funds that will go towards the purchase of materials for building new homes for Fox Valley families in need.
In what has become an annual tradition, the warehouse sale sponsored by School Specialty's Greenville Distribution Center provides an opportunity for associates to volunteer their time for a worthy cause and the local education community to take advantage of deep discounts on quality merchandise.
This year's successful sale events (March 22 and March 29) were the result of close collaboration among School Specialty, Habitat for Humanity, Fox Valley Technical College, Festival Foods, and Lowe's. Volunteer students from Fox Valley Technical College's semi-truck driving school helped to load, transport and unload product as part of their training – 4 semi truckloads with approximately 300 pallets of product were moved. Habitat secured the venue and their volunteers, with assistance from School Specialty staff, helped to unpack and price the products in preparation for the sale. Festival Foods and Lowe's promoted the events by placing flyers in all of their shopping bags. Additionally, Festival Foods furnished 150 shopping carts for attendees to use. School Specialty reached out to about 4,000 local teachers, day care centers and school administrators, inviting them to take advantage of the steep discounts in art, school and office supplies, multimedia, board games and more.
Considered the "Black Friday for teachers" event, well over a thousand shoppers attended this year's March warehouse sale. "Teachers, both in the community and in surrounding areas, were so appreciative of the discounted educational supplies offered and we were proud to help them all with high-quality, innovative offerings at great prices," stated Dan Kohler, School Specialty's EVP of Operations.
School Specialty has been partnering with the Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity for more than a decade, since 2002. Through fundraising efforts, including at least three onsite warehouse sales held in the Company's Greenville Distribution Center, School Specialty has helped raise an additional $65,000 above the nearly $250,000 raised in previous events, to help Habitat build safe, decent, affordable housing in the Fox Cities area.
Mr. Kohler continued, "Our annual Greenville Distribution Center sale provides a valuable opportunity to clean house for a great local cause. More than 100 School Specialty and Habitat for Humanity volunteers were onsite on the sale days to help shoppers locate items and assist with check-out. Overall, it was a wonderful two days for building connections with our local community. For the associates who participated either in preparation or on the sale days, we extend our sincerest appreciation for sharing your time in support of teachers as well as Habitat. At School Specialty, we strive to give back whenever possible and be a part of positive outcomes that could be seen and felt within the communities which in kind, have made a home for us. We look forward to an even stronger partnership with Habitat in the years to come and making a difference in the lives of others."
Habitat's Communications Specialist Vaya Kiel, commented, "We are very grateful for School Specialty's ongoing support over the years and are excited about future opportunities to work together in building homes and communities. Our Fox Cities organization, in particular, commends the generosity and commitment of the School Specialty staff in Greenville who give their time and talent to our efforts so that we may reach more families not only to give them homes but also to give them hope."
Proceeds from the March 2014 warehouse sales will help at least one deserving family realize their dream of home ownership by partnering with Habitat for Humanity.
About School Specialty, Inc.
School Specialty is a leading distributor of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace. The Company designs, develops, and provides educators with the latest and very best school supplies, furniture and both curriculum and supplemental learning resources. Working in collaboration with educators, School Specialty reaches beyond the scope of textbooks to help teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators ensure that every student reaches his or her full potential. For more information about School Specialty, visit www.schoolspecialty.com.