Teach.
Inspire. Change.

Alta Gracia

In 2010, Follett announced a partnership with Alta Gracia - a groundbreaking clothing line produced at the first-ever apparel factory in the developing world that pays its workers a living wage, demonstrating full respect for workers' rights. Workers in the Alta Gracia factory in the Dominican Republic are paid about three times what a typical factory worker makes in the country, eliminating barriers to basic life needs. This living wage is enough to provide an entire family access to three healthy meals a day, a safe home, transportation, healthcare and education-things that many take for granted every day.
 

CricketTogether

Follett is committed to improving literacy for students from their first day of school though college graduation and beyond. Partnering with CricketTogether, Follett team members are supporting that goal by providing online mentoring to students at Westchester Intermediate School in Westchester, Illinois.

CricketTogether is a proven and award-winning learning program that teaches students critical thinking and improves literacy skills preparing students for 21st century jobs and learning opportunities. Through this eMentoring program, Follett team members read stories with students as they collaboratively work through high-quality curriculum and discuss how the story concepts relate to the world around them. This in turn promotes literacy as the mentors connect and interact with their mentees throughout the school year.

Follett Challenge

It has become increasingly important that educators teach the 21st century skills students need in order to be prepared for life. The Follett Challenge promotes and advocates for educators who teach these skills and gives them a platform to share innovation with their school communities and the world. Each year Follett awards $200,000 in products and services to the most innovative programs that develop critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration between students and among educators. FollettChallenge.com

Thirst Project

The Thirst Project is a nonprofit organization working to end the global water crisis - a problem that currently affects more than one billion people. To generate and promote access to clean water, Thirst engages students across the U.S. in spreading awareness and raising the necessary funds to build water wells around the world. The Thirst Project and Follett share an important goal to increase access to fundamental resources that improve lives. For Thirst, it's clean water. At Follett, it's about learning.

By supporting an organization that drives sustainable access to clean water, we're also helping eliminate a huge obstacle to the classroom. Follett's ongoing support of The Thirst Project includes the donation of proceeds from select products and continued partnership in sharing Thirst's mission with the more than five million students served by Follett campus stores. To date, Follett has provided funds to build five wells and continues to sponsor fundraising efforts.

Photo caption: Afterschool boys drink from well, source: Thirst Project