Costco, Office Depot Foundation and Wells Fargo Recognized For Outstanding Support Of Education
Costco, Office Depot Foundation and Wells Fargo were touted last week as three of the top businesses in the state for supporting and advancing Florida’s public education system. The recognition occurred as a part of the 2012Commissioner’s Business Recognition Awards ceremony, held by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Education Foundation. Florida’s Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson, along with members of the Florida Education Foundation and leaders from the business community, were on hand to present awards to Costco, Office Depot Foundation and Wells Fargo and more than 70 other outstanding education business partners.
“I am honored to recognize the outstanding commitment of our business partners to public education in Florida,” said Commissioner Robinson. “Their pledge to student academic success through business partnerships embodies the fundamental relationship between education and the workforce. As students prepare for postsecondary education and careers, the skills they learn today through these partnerships will ensure they are ready to compete for the jobs of tomorrow.”
TheCommissioner’s Business Recognition Awards are administered by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Education Foundation to encourage successful alliances within the business community and among local school districts for the benefit of Florida’s students. The 2012 awards program was sponsored in part by Wells Fargo, Infinity Software Development, and Florida Trend Magazine.
Costco’s partnership with Palm Beach County schools has helped support the goal of achievement for all. The company has sponsored various events at schools across the county by providing food, supplies, backpacks and student incentives. Costco also supplies food and drinks for the School District Teacher of the Year, School Related Employee of the Year, and Retiree Celebration.
The Office Depot Foundation has been an exemplary partner to the School District for a number of years through its annual award winning National Backpack Program. In the past five years, Office Depot and the Foundation have provided more than 70,000 backpacks for children in Palm Beach County. The Office Depot Foundation has reached approximately 2.5 million students through its National Backpack Program since 2001.
Wells Fargo generously provides grants and sponsorships through the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, Inc. to help benefit district projects such as Winner Scholarships, Distinguished Alumni Awards, Awards for Excellence in Education, and Kids Read, Run and Recycle Marathon Mile. The School District also received a $50,000 donation from Wells Fargo to establish a partnership with Adopt-A-Classroom to increase community support and contributions for classrooms.
To learn more about the Florida Education Foundation, or to see the full list of winners for the Commissioner’s Business Recognition Awards, visit http://www.floridaeducationfoundation.org/.
