News

For the third year in a row, OneCoast, a nationwide sales and marketing services company, will be collecting for its annual Backpacks of Hope initiative during the Summer 2019 markets in Dallas, Atlanta, and Las Vegas. This initiative is an opportunity to give back to local communities by collecting school supplies for elementary school children who live in low-income households.

Over the years, OneCoast has collected hundreds of backpacks, notebooks, crayons, markers, pens, gift cards, and much more that have helped children prepare for a positive back-to-school experience. And this year with the support from the International Market Centers (IMC) and Dallas Market Center (DMC), OneCoast hopes to make a bigger impact in the lives of so many deserving children where the needs are great.

Give Back

“The Backpacks of Hope initiative is one of the ways we strive to give back to the areas where we conduct significant business. Between our employee donations, our vendor-partner donations, and this year’s support from both IMC and DMC, we are hoping to have a very positive impact on three elementary schools – one each in Atlanta, Dallas and Las Vegas”, says John Keiser, CEO OneCoast. “The cost of school supplies is growing each year and it is simply out of reach for many families. If we can help children have a better education experience, then we have definitely accomplished something.”

School Partners

OneCoast is partnering with the following Dallas, Atlanta, and Las Vegas elementary schools to help make a difference for many needy families as well as educators who dip into their own pockets each year to help supplement in their classroom:

• Dallas – Nathan Adams Elementary School
• Atlanta – Ethel W. Kight Elementary School (LaGrange)
• Las Vegas – Wendell P. Williams Elementary School

“This is a big project at each of our campuses in Atlanta and Las Vegas, and we applaud OneCoast for driving this effort for their third year,” said Bob Maricich, chairman and CEO of IMC. “This drive allows many less fortunate children to have essential supplies necessary to be successful in school,” added Maricich.

“Many of us remember how thrilling it was to purchase a new backpack, crayons, notebooks and pens and pencils that signaled the start of a new school year,” said Maricich. “There are far too many children in our communities who do not get that experience today and we are pleased that IMC is supporting Backpacks of Hope through this important campaign.”

Collection Locations

IMC will be working together by collecting backpacks and school supplies to help students at Ethel W. Kight Elementary in LaGrange (Atlanta) and Wendell P. Williams Elementary in Las Vegas start the school year prepared to succeed. Collection areas will be placed within each of the IMC Atlanta and Las Vegas campuses, and they will coordinate with OneCoast on delivering the collected materials to each of the elementary schools.

Additionally, the Dallas Market Center is committed to joining their efforts with OneCoast in spreading the message about this important initiative. “DMC enthusiastically supports our partners efforts to do good work in our communities and we are happy to assist,” says Joan Ulrich, executive vice president of leasing, DMC. “My daughter is a principal of a Charter school in Chicago. I have watched her spend her own money year after year and I cannot think of a better cause than supporting our educators and students.”

During the summer markets, donated items can be dropped off in the OneCoast Cares Donation bins located at the front entrances of the OneCoast and DEMDACO showrooms.

Other collection areas will be placed within IMC Atlanta and Las Vegas campuses where donations can be dropped off as well:

• Dallas: Showroom 256 (June 18 – 25, 2019)
• Atlanta: Showroom 1800 Bldg. 2 (July 8 – 15, 2019)
• Las Vegas: Showroom C-801 (July 27 – August 1, 2019)