Staples, Inc. is building on its long-standing commitment of supporting education with the reveal today of a new public service announcement (PSA) starring music icon Lady Gaga.
Making its debuts on StaplesforStudents.org, the PSA features the call to action to promote kindness in school and support teachers with the resources they need for a successful classroom.
The PSA highlights DonorsChoose.org – a charity that has helped donors fund more than 25,000 classroom projects for teachers that have positively affected more than 23 million students across the country – and Born This Way Foundation, which was founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, to support the wellness of young people and empower them to create a kinder and braver world.
Driven by several sobering statistics, Staples and Lady Gaga have teamed up to promote kindness in schools across the country and ensure that teachers and students have the resources they need for successful classroom learning. According to a report by Sesame Workshop, 86% of teachers (and 70% of parents) admit to worrying often that the world is an unkind place for children. Further, the Education Market Association reports that an estimated 99.5% of public school teachers use their own money to equip their classrooms – frequently at a cost of more than $400 per year.
In support of this mission, Staples also announced that it is making $1 million donations to both DonorsChoose.org and Born This Way Foundation.
“We’re thrilled to team up with Lady Gaga, Born This Way Foundation and DonorsChoose.org to support education and positive classroom experiences nationwide,” said Frank Bifulco, chief marketing officer, Staples. “There’s a correlation between kindness and overall well-being among students, and we’ll work together to create an environment for students that will allow them to flourish and propel them into their bright futures.”
Making of the PSA
The Staples for Students PSA with Lady Gaga was fully created by Madison + Vine and airs nationwide for the back-to-school season.
“What made this such a rewarding project was having all parties — Staples, Lady Gaga and our creative team — come together for a common goal of building more positive classroom experiences, while also telling an emotional story that people would be inspired to share and pass on. And we feel we really achieved that,” said James Shani, CEO and founder of Madison + Vine.
Madison + Vine’s unique, filmmaker-forward approach allows for the creation of narratives without sacrificing efficiency. The entire creative process – from ideation to production and post – is housed under one ever-expanding roof. The company is home for the most talented, emerging filmmakers from around the world, and the roster of directors continues to grow.
Win a $50,000 Scholarship and the chance to meet Lady Gaga
Staples is a proud sponsor of the 2017 Lady Gaga Joanne tour promoted by Live Nation. Beginning June 25, 2017, fans will have the opportunity to enter the Staples for Students Sweepstakes for a chance to win a $50,000 scholarship. The lucky grand prize winner will also win a trip to Las Vegas to meet Lady Gaga and see her in concert. Five additional winners will receive a trip to Las Vegas and tickets to Lady Gaga in concert on December 16, 2017.
Visit StaplesForStudents.org starting June 25, 2017 for sweepstakes rules and to learn how to enter. Entries must be submitted before September 16, 2017 at 11:59 PM ET and entrants must be 13 years or older.
