For its 2022 back-to-school campaign, pure-play retailer The Children’s Place is making its mark in the physical world with 10 learning centers — safe spaces that will be stocked with books, school supplies and youth-oriented products. The retailer is partnering with actor/author/philanthropist Kevin Hart, who unveiled the first community center at NYC Parks’ Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center in East Harlem on July 26.
The Children’s Place will launch an additional nine centers in deserving communities nationwide through this fall. Working with local libraries, community centers and a total of 20,000 books donated by ThriftBooks, each center will offer thousands of books, comfortable seating, interactive chalkboard walls and empowering murals and artwork. Penmaker BIC is another corporate partner of the program.
To encourage children’s confidence and self-expression, The Children’s Place also will be sponsoring a “Show Us Your Personali-TEE Contest,” encouraging families to imagine, create and submit a graphic illustration they would like featured within the retailer’s upcoming graphic T-shirt collection.
“The Children’s Place is committed to giving back, and moreover, we understand the importance of access to education and supporting key moments that will shape children’s lives,” said Maegan Markee, SVP of Marketing at The Children’s Place in a statement.
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“As a father, I understand how school, education and reading material can influence rising generations,” said Hart in a statement. “Whether opening a new book, taking on a new challenge in the classroom or making memories with fellow students, these are the times that most impact a child’s life.
“Over the last two years of the pandemic, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that children are facing when it comes to learning, making my partnership with The Children’s Place even more important to me,” Hart added.
