The OKI Data Americas US sales team has made a contribution of 232 pairs of new children’s shoes to members of the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County New Jersey (BGCCC). During the donation event, OKI US sales team representatives read books with the club members. The event was held at the Marjorie & Lewis Katz Clubhouse in the Parkside section of Camden; however, shoes were also provided for distribution to club members at the organization’s East Camden clubhouse.

This donation is a continuation of an incentive program initiated by the OKI US sales team in April 2012 and which led to the donation of 140 pairs of shoes to Center for Family Services’ Head Start program in August 2012, plus another 175 pairs to the same organization in November 2012. Through the incentive program, a donation is made into the “shoe bank” fund for each sale of an OKI color single-function or multifunction printer. At the conclusion of each of the company’s last four fiscal quarters, these funds were then used to purchase the children’s shoes.

To date, the OKI US sales team has donated at least 547 pairs of children’s shoes to two Camden, NJ-based organizations: the Center for Family Services Head Start program, and Boys & Girls Club of Camden County. The team selected these organizations as the beneficiaries of their charitable endeavor because of the organizations’ dedication to improving the odds for children and families through prevention, intervention and education programs.

“The OKI Data Americas US sales team is pleased to continue supporting philanthropic activities that directly contribute to the well-being of children and their families within the communities where our employees live and work,” says Greg Van Acker, vice president of US sales at OKI Data Americas. “We were proud to exceed our last donation, and have been motived to continue this initiative in order that we may make an even greater impact by expanding our program’s reach to include additional charitable groups within our community.”

In addition to providing shoes for children of the BGCCC, the OKI US sales team contributions will also provide shoes for children in need elsewhere in the world per the shoe manufacturer’s commitment to donate one pair of shoes for every pair purchased.

“We are extremely grateful to be the recipients of this generous gift by the OKI US sales team, and were excited to present children with new shoes,” says Bernadette Shanahan, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County. “The OKI US sales team’s donation helps create a positive experience for our club members.”