FriendsOffice, Ohio's largest independently owned office supply dealer, with 8 locations servicing Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, has been in operation for 80 years. Known for providing a comprehensive range of products, from furnishings and technology to office and school supplies, FriendsOffice is truly a one-stop shop for businesses, organizations, and schools. But beyond its extensive product offerings, FriendsOffice is making a significant impact on the community through its charitable endeavors, particularly with its WRITE Grant Program for Educators.
The WRITE (We Reward Innovative Teaching and Education) Grant Program, an ongoing charitable initiative since 2012, focuses on enriching classroom experiences for educators and students. This program invites teachers to submit essays detailing their visions for innovative classroom lessons, with selected educators receiving the supplies they need to bring their ideas to life. Serving as a supplier to over 200 school districts in Ohio alone, the education sector constitutes 22% of FriendsOffice's business. Alicia Giangiordano, Brand Communications Manager at FriendsOffice, explains, "Because serving the education market is such a core strength of ours, it made perfect sense to start giving back to schools. Over the years, we've been able to make a substantial difference for numerous teachers and their classrooms."
Since its inception, the WRITE Grant Program has donated approximately $30,000 worth of supplies, highlighting the dealer's deep-rooted connection to schools and educators. The grants, valued at $1,000 each and offered to three recipients each year, are often supplemented by donations from manufacturer partners, including HON, enhancing the program's reach and impact.
Beyond simply fulfilling item requests, the goal is to ensure that the supplies provided are not just functional but transformative for students' learning experiences. In recent years, the grant program has been aimed at identifying educators who demonstrate innovative teaching approaches in STEM and STEAM disciplines.
One memorable instance of the program's impact involved a teacher from Cleveland who used simple supplies like tissue paper, glue sticks, string, and tape to teach students about aerodynamics by creating parachutes. "Even though you can easily get those items off a retail shelf, teachers shouldn't have to spend their own money on those resources year after year," Giangiordano notes. Thanks to the help of a supplier partner, FriendsOffice provided these materials in bulk, enabling this enriching and hands-on learning experience to benefit students over multiple school years.
The program's success is not just in the supplies distributed but in the joy and excitement it brings to the classroom. Giangiordano shares, "We actually wrap all the supplies like presents. The teachers know what they're receiving, but the students are always surprised and so excited to unwrap everything." This thoughtful touch transforms the delivery of supplies into a celebratory event, creating a memorable moment for all involved. By turning these opportunities to provide charitable contributions into special occasions, FriendsOffice is not only supporting innovative education in the community but also fostering a sense of wonder and love of learning among the students they reach.
