Georgia-Pacific today announced it is partnering with the Kids In Need Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing underprivileged children with the school supplies they need to learn.  Through the agreement, Georgia-Pacific will be the National Paper Sponsor of the Kids In Need Foundation through 2017, where it will donate a minimum of $365,000 in cash and in-kind paper products.  

Georgia-Pacific will donate its printer and copy paper to help stock KINF's Resource Centers across the country. Teachers in underfunded communities may stock their classrooms by "shopping" for supplies at the centers, giving students access to basic materials they can't otherwise afford.

"When teachers have the supplies they need to ensure their students can learn and succeed, the classroom experience is better for all students," said Dave Smith, executive director of The Kids In Need Foundation. "Georgia-Pacific understands that paper is a big part of every classroom, and we thank them for ensuring that so many more boys and girls will have this essential supply in their schools."

According to KINF, as many as one in five children can't afford basic school supplies due to their family's economic circumstances.  Being unprepared for school causes students to be less attentive in class and miss valuable learning opportunities.  As a result, teachers are spending an average of $500 of their own money on supplies for their classrooms every year.

"Supporting education is a strong focus for Georgia-Pacific," said Bob Hieronymus, category vice president of Georgia-Pacific's Communication Papers division.  "We know that paper is one of the most requested school supplies by teachers and we want to help fulfill this need, so we are proud to partner with The Kids In Need Foundation to help positively impact thousands of underprivileged children."

In 2014 alone, The Kids In Need Foundation helped provide over 4 million children with school supplies in the United States, where more than 16 million children live in poverty.