Friday, November 5, 2010

NYC Kids Can Get Old Navy Clothes If They Go To School | Education | Change.org

NYC Kids Can Get Old Navy Clothes If They Go To School | Education | Change.org

NYC Kids Can Get Old Navy Clothes If They Go To School

Here's a tale of two well-known clothing retailers, Old Navy and Kohl's, and how they've pledged to help schools. One idea encourages school attendance; one is a thinly-disguised marketing ploy that ended up backfiring.

It's no secret that big corporations often hop onto the education bandwagon with benefits for local school districts and school programs. Pepsi Refresh is the most high-profile of the part-marketing campaign, part-benefit that happens when companies want to be associated with positive change in education.

Old Navy is the latest retailer to join the fray with a partnership with New York City schools. Students who show good or improved attendance get $50 to spend at Old Navy on school clothes, if they sign a pledge that they'll continue to try to attend school. Rewarding students for showing up is a product plug with a good result.