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Dixon Ticonderoga and the National Association for the Exchange of Industrial Resources (NAEIR), an in-kind philanthropy organization, are making it possible for more schools and teachers to help fill students’ pencil boxes this fall.

The pencil manufacturer, whose name is almost synonymous with the No. 2 pencil, recently donated approximately 12 million Dixon Ticonderoga pencils to NAEIR. In turn, NAEIR will make these pencils available for free to teachers, schools and other nonprofits through its online catalog.

“We know that pencils are one of the most requested items from teachers,” said Sean Nobui​​​​, the company’s vice president of marketing. “The pencil is the starting point for so much of the classroom, and making sure students have this critical tool is big step toward their success.”

In-kind giving, or product philanthropy as it’s sometimes called, is woven into Dixon Ticonderoga’s corporate philosophy.

“We’ve partnered with the Kids in Need Foundation for over 20 years, providing support, usually through product donations, for teachers and students across the nation,” Nobui said.

With headquarters in Appleton, Wisconsin, an office in Heathrow, Florida and a distribution center in Macon, Georgia, the company also donates products to school and community programs in those local communities as well.

“Steve Boyea, our CEO, worked with NAEIR in the past,” Nobui said. “Their mission is very aligned with the values of our organization, and we saw this as an opportunity to increase our impact this year.”

In addition to pencils, crayons and markers were also donated.