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Week-long effort reminds communities to clip Box Tops to help raise much-needed funds for K-8 schools

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - As each new school year approaches, schools and teachers gather the supplies and equipment they need to provide effective learning for students. But too often, gaps in funding force schools to make difficult decisions about what they need the most. For more than 20 years, one program has been helping bridge that gap for schools across the country, and in late September, supporters are gearing up to raise more money than ever.

Box Tops for Education, a program that has raised more than $840 million for K-8 schools, is launching National Box Tops for Education Week (September 24 - 30), an initiative encouraging local communities around the country to collect as many Box Tops as possible to help earn much-needed funds for local schools. The first-ever week-long initiative gives Box Tops coordinators and volunteers the resources they need to rally their communities to participate in the Box Tops for Education program, including detailed materials to hold neighborhood clipping drives where adult volunteers collect Box Tops from neighbors. It's designed to motivate parents, and others in the community, to support their local schools.

'There are millions of dollars in potential school funds sitting on store shelves just waiting to be clipped, but a staggering number of Box Tops go unclipped each year,' said Melissa Wildermuth, who oversees the Box Tops for Education program at General Mills. 'Through the first-ever National Box Tops for Education Week, we're reminding parents and community members just how easy it is to make a meaningful and positive impact on their local schools.'

The General Mills Box Tops for Education program has helped schools earn cash to fund enrichment programs, buy important items like playground equipment, library books, new technology, art supplies, musical instruments, and so much more. Clipping and collecting Box Tops has resulted in more than 70,000 K-8 schools earning more than $840 million dollars through the program.

General Mills enlisted HGTV star and avid Box Top-clipper Genevieve Gorder to help mobilize local communities with the program. Just last week, Gorder participated in a test-market clipping drive in her hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Going door-to-door in her childhood neighborhood, she helped local volunteers clip and collect thousands of Box Tops.

'As a mother, my daughter's education is one of my top priorities, and we always clip Box Tops to support her school,' said Gorder. 'After just one day of canvasing my old neighborhood, we nearly matched all of last year's Box Tops earnings for the school. Just imagine what we could do for our local schools if everyone got involved during National Box Tops for Education Week!'

Box Tops are found on hundreds of products, including everything from granola bars to breakfast cereals to trash bags, meaning practically every household in America can take part in a local clipping drive. Supporters can simply clip Box Tops and turn them in to their local participating school. In addition, supporters can enter the 'Double Up' Sweepstakes through Sept. 30, 2017, for a chance to have their school's fall Box Tops earnings check doubled.

Learn more about how to participate in National Box Tops for Education Week and enter the 'Double Up' Sweepstakes.

About Box Tops for Education
America's K-8 schools have earned more than $840 million through the Box Tops for Education® program since it was founded by General Mills in 1996. More than 70,000 schools use that cash to purchase items such as computers, library books, art supplies, playground equipment and more. Schools can earn up to $20,000 per year by clipping Box Tops on hundreds of participating products. To learn more visit www.boxtops4education.com.

About General Mills
General Mills is a leading global food company that serves the world by making food people love. Its brands include Cheerios, Annie's, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Fiber One, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2017 consolidated net sales of US $15.6 billion, as well as another US $1.0 billion from its proportionate share of joint-venture net sales.

General Mills Inc. published this content on 21 September 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 21 September 2017 19:39:03 UTC.

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