In 2025, the PMMI Foundation, the charitable arm of PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, expanded its reach through scholarships, Skills Fund matching grants, student travel assistance, and industry-sponsored events. PMMI introduced thousands of young people to careers in packaging, processing, automation, and manufacturing. 

The Foundation supported over 70 programs in North America through the PMMI U Skills Fund for the Future Workforce. This resulted in over $600,000 in matching funds and a total investment of $1.2 million across the industry to strengthen packaging education and training. These programs benefited more than 17,000 students, creating meaningful engagement opportunities and fueling long-term talent development for the industry.

This impact was made possible in part through the support of Schneider Electric, the PMMI Foundation’s Visionary Benefactor. As a champion of workforce development, Schneider Electric’s support helps expand access to education, hands-on experiences, and career pathways for students pursuing futures in packaging, processing, and manufacturing.

“Every one of these initiatives is about opening doors, helping students discover the career paths available in packaging and processing, and giving them real-world access to our industry,” says Kate Torrence, director, workforce development, PMMI. “We’re proud of the momentum we’ve built and deeply grateful to the partners and sponsors who make this work possible.” 

College scholarships

In 2025, the PMMI Foundation awarded more than $168,000 in academic scholarships to students pursuing degrees in packaging, processing, engineering, automation, and related fields at colleges and universities across North America. The scholarships recognize outstanding emerging leaders and help develop the next generation of innovators for the industry. 

“These students represent the heart of the future for packaging and processing,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “Their dedication, curiosity, and drive will help our industry thrive for years to come. We extend our sincere thanks to our sponsors and partners whose support makes these opportunities possible.” 

The PMMI Foundation continued to elevate real-world career exploration through national events and competitions, bringing packaging and processing into the lives of students across multiple touchpoints.

Focusing on PACK EXPO

In 2025, the Foundation helped make PACK EXPO accessible to students by supporting more than 1,000 student attendees across PACK EXPO Southeast and PACK EXPO Las Vegas, providing over $75,000 in funding to help student groups travel to the shows and explore packaging innovation firsthand.

The Foundation also continued its investment in summer workforce development experiences through 23 co-branded summer camps, impacting more than 500 students in North America and providing $50,000 in support to fuel hands-on manufacturing exploration.

That same year, the PMMI Foundation supported major national initiatives aimed at connecting students with technical skills, leadership development, and industry inspiration.

At the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference held in June, the Foundation engaged with more than 19,000 students from across the country, featuring the Packaging Pavilion to highlight packaging careers and bring industry visibility to the next generation of skilled professionals. 

FIRST programs

The Foundation also continued its support of FIRST programs, sponsoring 36 FIRST Robotics (FRC) teams and 10 FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams to attend the FIRST Championships, reinforcing its commitment to STEM, automation, and the engineering pathways that connect directly to packaging and processing careers. 

“The progress we’ve made this year reflects the strength of our partners and the urgency of our mission,” says Pittas. “This work is about much more than programs—it’s about the future of our industry. We’re proud to be helping students find their place in packaging and processing, and we’re committed to expanding this impact even further in the year ahead.”