Monkeez Makes a Difference, the educational, charitable program for children from MVP Brands, will give away more than 100 charity event kits to retailers during the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy in Nashville from June 17 to 18. Event kits include ideas and materials to plan and host community‐building events to benefit three nationally renowned charities the program partners with, including how to set up a lemonade stand to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, collecting dog toys to benefit Best Friends Animal Society and local animal shelters, and hosting Operation Christmas Child shoe box packing parties to benefit Samaritan’s Purse. The event kits are free of charge and available on a first come, first served basis.
In addition, all Monkeez Makes a Difference back‐to‐school merchandise will feature a 25 percent discount during the ASTRA show, including backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, pencil boxes, and backpack clips. For retailers purchasing Monkeez Makes a Difference back‐to-school merchandise and other products, free freight is available on orders of $300 or more.
Thanks to the support of the program by independent retailers, children and families across the country, Monkeez Makes a Difference has donated a total of more than $82,000 to the organization’s three charity partners since the website launched last October. Donations are awarded to the three charity partners each quarter based on children across the country who select one of three charities to direct 10 percent of the wholesale cost of each product through the first‐of‐its‐kind program that teaches the importance of philanthropy.