Recently, SanMar’s eight distribution centers and home office came together to work with the Why Not You Foundation to raise funds for Friends of the Children.

SanMar joined forces with the Why Not You Foundation because of their commitment to meeting the needs of children and giving them the opportunity to thrive. SanMar and the Why Not You Foundation wanted to fundraise for an organization that had an innovative approach to providing support, skills and mentoring to kids during critical stages of their lives.

Friends of the Children is a national nonprofit that is breaking the cycle of generational poverty by giving children facing the highest risks the ability to create a new story. They do this by providing the most vulnerable children with a long-term, salaried, professional mentor, called a Friend, from kindergarten through high school graduation. 

“I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors in my life and I believe that Friends of the Children provides a much-needed resource for many children in our communities,” said Jeremy Lott, president of SanMar. “Our SanMar Family Values are a huge part of what we do here and we take great pride in making a difference by giving back to such a worthy organization.”

SanMar employees donated their money and time in a variety of ways, including raffling gift baskets put together by SanMar teams, food and dessert sales, a wine tasting, mini-golf, chair massages, product sales, dunk tanks and more. It was a great way for employees to creatively fundraise for an organization that has inspired and benefitted so many children around the country. 

Including a generous company match, SanMar donated more than $120,000 to Friends of the Children.

United Way King County
The Community Resource Exchange is a United Way event that unites caring people, business and nonprofits that want to see homelessness solved for every person who spends sleepless nights outside alone. On March 20, 500 volunteers supported 1,300 people experiencing homelessness with employment opportunities, housing help, new clothing, medical services and much more. As an event sponsor, SanMar was pleased to donate hundreds of shirts and polos.

Cold Weather Drive
Chilly winter temperatures mean that extra layers are necessary for the entire family. However, for many people in our community, purchasing this gear can be quite expensive and out of their budget. SanMar asked our employees to help out, donating new and gently used items for the Issaquah and Snoqualmie Valley Food Banks.

During the two-week donation drive earlier this year, the SanMar team collected nearly 400 items, including jackets, sweatshirts, socks, blankets, scarves and more, helping to keep our neighbors cozy and warm!