Come on Down to Camp Garrett®!

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Earlier this month, my Garrett® colleagues and I had the pleasure of hosting Camp Garrett® at The Angel Family Health Center of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago.

We arrived early, and we quickly unpacked paints, Elmer’s Glue, popsicle sticks, balloons, Easter eggs, stickers, tulips, pipe cleaners, Garrett Popcorn Tins, marbles, confetti and, of course, Garrett Mix®.  As we organized the arts and crafts area, we watched young noses eagerly press against the front door’s sidelight.  Based upon the number of noses, we knew that we were in for a fun, energetic and crafty afternoon.

Wally the Bear oversees the Camp Garrett festivities

The Creative Team at Garrett® equipped our campsite with a campfire (complete with marshmallows for “roasting”), rustic directional signage, Pin the Kernel on the Happy Camper game and the afternoon’s mascot, Wally the Bear.  For an afternoon, we were no longer in a vibrant Chicago neighborhood.  Rather, we had been transported to Camp Garrett®, where sharing and inspiring Handcrafted Happiness™ was our goal.

Pin the Kernel on the Happy Campers was a hit!

We welcomed to Camp Garrett® more than 50 young family members who were visiting The Angel Family Health Center to receive barrier-free access to multi-service healthcare.  Children of all ages played games under Anthony’s (Garrett Brands’ Vice President and Creative Director) watchful eye while others created Mother’s Day presents and refrigerator-worthy works of art.

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I’m not sure who had more on this sunny Friday afternoon: my Garrett Popcorn teammates and I, the staff and volunteers from Infant Welfare Society, or the visitors to Camp Garrett®.  I do know, however, that the sun set too quickly on our adventure.

You know what we always say – Love Is Messy™!

As we were packing up Camp, I overheard one young camper say to her mom, “This is the best place ever.  I think we should come here next year.”

All good campers leave their campsites in better condition than how they found them, and all good companies strive to leave their communities in a better condition as well.  I am proud to share that this is Garrett Cares’™ third year supporting The Angel Family Health Center of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago.  From April 28^th until May 21^st, 2017, in our domestic Shops and online, Garrett® will donate 10% of the sales of our Signature Pink and Spring Tins and Spring Collection Gift Boxes and Bundles, up to $20,000, to Chicago’s Infant Welfare Society.

Scott Schroeder, Chief Brand Officer

Watch the entire Camp Garrett® video below:

Celebrating Black History Month

As a Black Ensemble Theater Board Member, I am very proud to share that Garrett Popcorn Shops® is celebrating its fifth year of partnership with the theater.

I have attended many Black Ensemble shows, and I am enthralled by them. Attending a BE show is a theatrical experience like no other. If you’ve never attended a theater performance during which the audience is inspired to dance in the aisles, I invite you to attend a Black Ensemble production.

My love for the theater extends well beyond what happens on the stage. Knowing that Black Ensemble, through its outreach programs, interacts with 12,000 Chicago youth every year fills me with hope and pride.

We visited three Chicago schools during our Happy Friday celebration with Black Ensemble Theater.

To celebrate Garrett Popcorn’s Black History Month partnership (10% of all Tin sales during February, up to a $20,000 donation, benefit the theater), Garrett® visited three Chicago Public Schools and enlisted the help of students who have participated in the theater’s Strengthening The School Through Theater Arts program.

The first stop of our Happy Friday excursion: Morgan Park Academy!

Our enthusiastic (and adorable) Ella Flagg Young Elementary School helpers!

The Uplift Community High School team helped us on our final Happy Friday stop of a fun-filled day!

From the South Side, to the West Side, to the North Side, the students assisted us with gifting Garrett Mix® to their teachers and administrators (who also participate in Black Ensemble’s outreach programs). Unbounded happiness ensued, and here’s the proof:

I have frequently mentioned that our small batches have a big impact through our Garrett Cares™ donations. After witnessing the smiles and hugs that we shared last week, I’d like to amend that statement: Garrett Cares also delivers joy through the simple act of humankindness.

– Scott Schroeder, Chief Brand Officer

Giving and Gratitude: Garrett Cares™ x Feeding America®

For many reasons, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

And my favorite Thanksgiving tradition is when family and friends gather at our dining room table and we share the many things for which we are grateful.

Family, friends and good health are always mentioned, as is the bounty before us.  Without food, sustenance, nothing else would be possible.

Participating in Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month

For the 42 million Americans (more than 15 times greater than Chicago’s population) who live in food insecure households, however, Thanksgiving is a very different holiday.

This is why I am proud that Garrett Popcorn Shops®, through our Garrett Cares™ initiative, has partnered with Feeding America® and its network of 200 food banks to lead the fight against hunger in the United States. I even had the honor to speak about the partnership over the airwaves with US99’s Mike Kasper.

Gift great. Do good.

With your generous participation, our small batches will have a big impact. The purchase of a One Gallon Feeding America Tin filled with our world-famous Garrett Mix® will secure and distribute 36 meals to families facing hunger.

Spending time with the Feeding America team in Chicago

This is a powerful partnership.  Garrett, Feeding America and you.

In addition to supporting Feeding America by purchasing a custom Feeding America Tin, there are many other ways to show your support.  Just last month, Garrett Popcorn volunteered at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

The Garrett team volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository

We spent the day repacking over 3,000 cases of food for senior citizens.  We laughed, we bonded, we perspired, but, most importantly, we knew that we were giving back to Chicago, Garrett Popcorn’s home for over 67 years.  Because Feeding America supports food banks across America, local volunteer opportunities are available in your community as well.  Learn more about volunteering here.

During this season of giving and gratitude, please consider volunteering, donating directly or by deliciously supporting Feeding America by purchasing limited edition Feeding America Tins today.

The Power of Pink

As I look out my office window, autumn continues to declare its arrival.

For many reasons, fall is my favorite season.  The mild days and crisp nights, the return of Crock-Pot meals and comfort food, in addition to the bold and coppery tones of the landscape’s leafy display always rekindles my love for this season.

When I walk through Garrett Popcorn’s headquarters and Shops this time of year, I see a very different color palette.  In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Garrett® is proudly dressed in pink.

My colleagues are wearing it, our Shops are decorated with it, and our website proclaims our support in bursts of bright pink.

Through our Garrett Cares™ initiative, we are once again proud to support A Silver Lining Foundation’s Buy A Mom A Mammogram® program.  Now in our seventh year of support, Garrett has donated over $76,000 to ASLF, a donation that has allowed 562 uninsured and underinsured women and men to receive access to cost-free mammograms and diagnostic testing critical for early detection.

Join The Fight!  Through the end of October, Garrett will donate 10% of Signature Pink Tin sales in Shops and online, up to $20,000, to ASLF.

To learn more about the important work that Dr. Sandy Goldberg, ASLF’s founder, her ASLF colleagues, and its 15 partner hospitals have accomplished in the 10 years of the Buy A Mom A Mammogram® program, please enjoy this short video.

Thank you for allowing Garrett Popcorn Shops® to support A Silver Lining Foundation as it works to ensure that dignified, respectful, and equal access to quality cancer education and services for all, by creating meaningful partnerships with community, advocacy, and healthcare organizations.

– Scott Schroeder, Executive Vice President & Chief Brand Officer

Every Kernel Counts®