Box Tops for Education® Teams up with Steve Harvey to Present Birmingham School with 100,000 Box Tops in National Principal-for-a-Day Contest

Comedian, Author and Radio Personality Steve Harvey Congratulates School During Special Visit as Honorary Principal

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As public education and budget cuts continue to be a critical issue facing many communities nationwide, General Mills’ Box Tops for Education® enlisted the help of the Steve Harvey Morning Show to award one lucky school 100,000 Box Tops valued at $10,000 and a special visit from famed comedian, author and syndicated radio talk show host.

“This worthy initiative allows us to continue our deeply rooted support of education by shining the spotlight on a real example of how a local school, parents and a community, can work together to make a difference. It is a simple way to make an incredible impact on education”

On Thursday, January 26, Phillips Academy’s Principal Mark Sullivan will have the opportunity to relinquish his daily responsibilities, allowing Steve Harvey to serve as the school’s Principal-for-a-Day.

“I know firsthand the positive impact a Principal can have on students, families and an entire community. Having Mr. Harvey serve in this capacity for just one day is something many of our students will remember for a lifetime, and we are both excited and appreciative for the opportunity,” says Principal Sullivan. “Even more so, I am so thankful for a program like Box Tops. With the budget issues this school and other schools like ours face, this program truly makes a difference.”

Since 1996, Box Tops for Education, a program supported by General Mills, has offered parents easy, everyday ways to earn cash for schools. The concept is simple. Parents purchase Box Tops participating brands. They clip and send the Box Top coupons to their child’s school. The school then redeems the Box Tops for cash.

“This worthy initiative allows us to continue our deeply rooted support of education by shining the spotlight on a real example of how a local school, parents and a community, can work together to make a difference. It is a simple way to make an incredible impact on education,” says Kim Bow Sundy, Box Tops for Education brand manager.

Phillips Academy has one special parent to thank for all of this. Angela Strozier entered the Steve Harvey Morning Show’s recent Principal-for-a-Day essay contest sponsored by Box Tops for Education. In her essay, Strozier shared the additional support needed from Box Tops to assist her daughter’s school after devastating tornadoes hit the Birmingham area last April.

“There is something to be said for a school with such strong parental and community involvement. This mom’s letter spoke volumes. I am looking forward to serving as the honorary Principal of Phillips Academy with the hope of sharing some inspiration, insight and a little bit of humor, to encourage the students along in their academic journey,” says Steve Harvey.

To learn more about the program visit, www.btfe.com.

About Box Tops for Education

America’s schools have earned more than $445 million through Box Tops for Education since the program started in 1996 including more than $67 million in 2011. Thousands of schools have used that cash to purchase items such as computers, library books, art supplies and playground equipment. Schools can earn up to $60,000 per year to spend on anything they choose, by clipping Box Tops coupons from hundreds of products and shopping online through the Box Tops Marketplace and Reading Room.