Promo Industry Helps Provide 1 Million Meals Through ASI Food Bank Fund Drive

TREVOSE, PA – July 17, 2020 – The Advertising Specialty Institute^® (ASI) and members of the promotional products industry came together during a time of crisis to raise over $100,000, helping provide 1 million meals to the hungry through the #ASIcares food bank fund drive.

The industry-wide fund drive began on May 12. Suppliers, distributors and decorators made cash contributions to their local food banks and pantries and sent receipts to ASI, which pledged to match every dollar donated, up to $50,000. ASI donated its match to Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country, which serves over 60,000 food pantries and 200 food banks.

All participating donors will be named to the Bess Cohn Humanitarian Society and acknowledged during the annual ASI Counselor Awards, held virtually on Wednesday, July 22 at 5 p.m. E.T. ASI members may register at this link.

After receiving two large, last-minute donations, ASI President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy M. Andrews extended the drive’s end date from June 30 to July 6, in hopes of reaching 100% of ASI’s original goal. After weeks of fundraising, the generosity of industry companies and individuals exceeded the goal by raising $50,210, resulting in over $100,000 in overall donations with ASI’s match.

“I’m grateful and humbled that by working together, ASI and the promotional products industry are helping feed the most vulnerable among us, in communities everywhere,” said Andrews. “The donations started pouring in as soon as we announced our fund drive and didn’t stop until the very last day. Everyone who donated, whether it was $20 or $10,000, deserves our gratitude. Once again, caring people throughout our industry proved that simple human kindness will always win out, no matter how dark the day. From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of everyone at ASI and the Norman Cohn family, thank you.”

Added ASI Chairman Norman Cohn: “There have been many days I have been proud of our company and our industry. Today was one of the most proud days. With our family and ASI team donation and industry matching, we actually provided 1,000,000 meals (count the zeros – this isn’t a typographical error!) to help feed the hungry.”

According to Feeding America, through its partnerships, the organization works to rescue food before it’s wasted. As a result, every dollar donated to Feeding America helps secure and distribute through its nationwide network of food banks at least 12 pounds of food – the equivalent of 10 meals – to people facing hunger.

Notable donors to the fund drive include Harper + Scott (asi/220052), Storm Creek (asi/89879), Doing Good Works (asi/222095), Roaring Moose (asi/309241) and The Hat Source (asi/221987). Several promo companies, including AIM Smarter (asi/522700), ePromos Promotional Products (asi/188515), FORMost Graphic Communications (asi/196369) and Summit Group (asi/339116) also organized employee fund drives to contribute larger donations for hunger-relief efforts.

About ASIThe Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI^®) serves a network of 25,000 suppliers, distributors and decorators in the $25.8 billion promotional products industry. ASI’s flagship product, the technology platform ESP^®, manages the industry’s entire supply and marketing chain. ASI also produces award-winning digital and print content, live events and educational programs that enable companies in 53 countries to be more efficient, productive and profitable. ASI’s Counselor^® magazine provides the most authoritative business content in the industry, and the ASI Certification Program features 500+ live and online education courses for over 40,000 professionals. The company, family owned and operated since 1962, is proud to have been consistently ranked among the “Best Places to Work” in Philadelphia and Bucks County, PA. For more info: asicentral.com.