Corporate friends in public education

Our friend, Eric Lerner, runs a promotional products and screenprinting company called Action Plus Ideas. He's probably the most generous small business-owner I've ever met. He understands the value of good customer relationships and is willing to bend over backward to help people out.

Our company partners with a local elementary school, Ashley Park. Ashley Park is a Title I school with 98% free and reduced lunch and around 10% of the school population is homeless. The school's principal asked us if we could help them build school spirit this year. Guess where we turned? That's right, Eric at Action Plus. Eric gave us the best possible deal ... FREE. We were able to find a wholesaler for the t-shirts themselves, and he kicked in the design and printing for FREE. Not only that, but Ashley Park -- the Eagles -- didn't have a logo. So Eric had his designer create a very cool logo for nothing. Now the school has a logo and a t-shirt for every child and teacher.

You can bet I'll look for ways to send business Eric's way. Hey, this is a recession, and he's offering help to people who need it most. I am blown away. Check them out: Action Plus Ideas.