Elmer's®, Kids In Need Foundation Announce Teacher Grant Program

DAYTON, Ohio, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kids In Need Foundation, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to providing free school supplies to economically disadvantaged school children and under-funded teachers, announces the second year of a teacher grants program sponsored by Elmer's® Products, Inc., an industry leader in adhesives, arts and crafts, office and educational products.  As a result of this educational partnership, teachers nationwide can visit the Kids In Need Foundation website beginning February 14 to apply for an Elmer's Teacher Tool Kit grant that can range from $100 to $500. 

The grants will be given to teachers who wish to conduct classroom projects selected from a catalog of more than 500 projects currently in the Kids In Need Guide to Award Winning Projects.   Applications will be available online at www.kinf.org. This year, approximately 250 grants sponsored by Elmer's will be provided to teachers nationwide.

"The Kids In Need Foundation recognizes the creativity of teachers through our Teacher Grants Program. Our library of projects showcases dynamic classroom activities, but they all require funds," said Dave Smith, executive director of the Foundation.  "We want to alleviate the need for teachers to reach into their own pockets to fund these projects, and we are thrilled to partner again with Elmer's to provide teachers with the tools they need to strengthen imagination and critical thinking skills and abilities among their students."

"Elmer's has a deep commitment to the education of young people and those who help to mold them," said Terri Brown, senior manager marketing services and communications at Elmer's. "Together, with the Kids In Need Foundation, we will provide teachers with tools that help strengthen critical thinking, creativity and innovation among their students. The Teacher Grants Program is just one way Elmer's provides educators with the resources they need to be successful."

As part of the Elmer's-Kids In Need partnership, Elmer's will also donate product to the Foundation's national network of free stores for teachers.  The Kids In Need National Network of Resource Centers, 27 facilities across the country where teachers from low income schools can obtain free school supplies for their students and classrooms, will feature an area called Elmer's Tools for Teachers stocked with such items as Elmer's School Glue and Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks, art materials, scrapbooking supplies, and other Elmer's products.

For more information about Elmer's Teacher Tool Kit grant and this educational partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation, visit Elmers.com.

About the Kids In Need Foundation

The Kids In Need Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) charitable organization with offices in Dayton, Ohio, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Founded in 1995, the Foundation's mission is to ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed by providing free school supplies nationally to students most in need. The Kids In Need National Network of Resource Centers includes 27 facilities where teachers from low-income schools go to obtain free school supplies for their students. In addition, two Kids In Need Teacher Grant programs provide K-12 educators with funding to provide innovative learning experiences for students. The Kids In Need Foundation has distributed more than $350 million in school supplies since its founding, directly benefiting 1.6 million students and 100,000 teachers annually, and has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to teachers.  Kids In Need has received Charity Navigator's highest four-star rating for three consecutive years, indicating that it operates in a fiscally responsible way and outperforms most other charities in America. For more information, visit www.kinf.org.  Follow Kids In Need Foundation on Twitter, http://twitter.com/kidsinneed.

About Elmer's

Elmer's® Products, Inc., headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, has been a trusted brand and industry leader for more than 60 years. Elmer's produces a variety of well-known adhesives, arts and crafts, educational and office products for use at home, school or business. Elmer's branded products are developed to provide project solutions and to inspire people to create, build and learn for life.  Elmer's also markets the number one instant adhesive in the U.S., Instant Krazy Glue®, and X-ACTO®, a leader in innovative cutting blades, knives and office supply products. For more information, visit www.elmers.com. Follow Elmer's on Facebook and Twitter at http://facebook.com/elmers and http://twitter.com/elmers.

SOURCE Kids In Need Foundation