OKI Data Americas donates shoes to children’s charity

The OKI Data Americas US sales team has donated more than 175 pairs of shoes to children through the Center for Family Services (CFS) – a non-profit human services agency based in Camden, New Jersey – as part of the agency’s Head Start ‘Thanks for Giving’ seasonal event.

The event was held in Camden at the Centerville Head Start location and included a variety of learning activities for students. Members of the OKI US sales team assisted in classroom activities, which included reading books to the students that tied into the curriculum and shoe distribution.

This donation is a continuation of an incentive program initiated by OKI’s US sales team in April 2012, which led to the donation of 140 pairs of shoes to the agency’s Head Start Back to School event held in August 2012. Through the incentive program, for each sale of an OKI color single-function or multifunction printer, a donation was made into the ‘shoe bank’ fund that, at the conclusion of the company’s fiscal quarter, was used to purchase the children’s shoes.

‘We are pleased to provide continued support to Center for Family Services, and the children and families they serve within our community,’ said Greg Van Acker, vice president of US sales at OKI Data Americas. ‘The OKI US sales team was proud to exceed last quarter’s donation and has been motived to make a positive impact within our community.’

The team supports philanthropic activities that directly contribute to the welfare of the communities where OKI employees live and work, such as non-profit educational organizations like the Center for Family Services Head Start program. It selected CFS to be the beneficiary of this charitable endeavor because of the organization’s dedication to changing the odds for children and families through prevention, intervention and education. The Head Start ‘Thanks for Giving’ event is one of many volunteer opportunities offered by CFS, allowing the community to participate and engage in the daily education of the students, and contributing to the positive development of the children.

‘We are very grateful for the continued support provided by the OKI US sales team, and were excited to present each of the children in the Head Start program with a new pair of shoes leading into the holiday season,’ said Richard Stagliano, president and CEO of CFS. ‘The OKI US sales team’s donation to the “Thanks for Giving” event helps us to create a positive experience for these children during a very special time of year.’

In addition to providing shoes for children in the Head Start program, the contributions will also provide shoes for children in need elsewhere in the world per the shoe manufacturer's commitment to donate one pair of shoes for every pair purchased.

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