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Media Contact: Ian Hanson for SanMar
ianhanson@wearedh.com

SanMar Inspires Promotional Industry to Support Mhotivo School

Supplier Teams Up with Reciprocity Road to Drive Change in Honduras

Issaquah, Wash. – Oct. 7, 2024 – – SanMar Corporation, a leading supplier of wholesale accessories and apparel, today unveiled two significant developments benefiting the Mhotivo School in Choloma, Honduras. First, SanMar announced the successful completion of major construction projects at the school, which began in 2022 and concluded in the spring of 2024. Second, Reciprocity Road, a buying group of 13 promotional product distributors, has pledged to support the school’s infrastructure and scholarship programs in partnership with SanMar. 

The Mhotivo School Foundation, founded in 1992, provides a safe and accessible space for students to receive an education, participate in athletic programs, and access technology and other technical skills. The school’s coursework covers various topics including math, science, history, and the arts.
In 2022, SanMar partnered with the W. Duke Kimbrell Family Foundation, an affiliate of Parkdale Mills, to support the Mhotivo School with the construction of 22 classrooms, a computer lab, and additional administrative offices, to accommodate 600 additional students. These projects were completed in the spring of 2024. SanMar’s manufacturing operations in Choloma are closely linked to the local community, which includes many of the company’s employees and their families.
“It’s been amazing to see the new building come to life with educators and students growing into the space,” said Jeremy Lott, President of SanMar. “I’m hopeful of the positive change education can have on a community. Sharing the Mhotivo School and Choloma with our friends in the industry has been my great privilege. I couldn’t be more thrilled that the team at Reciprocity Road has made a commitment to its future.
Reciprocity Road, a boutique buying group of 13 promotional product distributors, today announced this milestone in its philanthropic efforts. To have a collective impact for good through its BrandGood® initiatives, the group supports various industry education organizations and causes local to its members. For the first time, Reciprocity Road has united to make a significant donation to an international beneficiary, marking a new chapter in its commitment to global impact.
In April 2024, the Reciprocity Road team, in collaboration with SanMar, visited the Mhotivo School to witness firsthand the positive impact of the promotional industry’s contributions to the Choloma community. Inspired by this experience, Reciprocity Road has decided to contribute to the Mhotivo School by investing in infrastructure improvements and scholarships for its students. Below are reflections from Reciprocity Road leadership.
“I can never look at a t-shirt the same way again. It’s just a simple t-shirt, but all of these lives are impacted and touched,” said Perry Wehrle, Executive Director of Reciprocity Road. “We’re making sure we’re putting support back into this fragile infrastructure.
“First and foremost, you invest in the leadership. And I felt really good about the leadership of the Mhotivo School,” said Bart Simpson, President, Flywheel Brands, Inc. and Reciprocity Road partner upon visiting the school. “When we can tuck under the wing of SanMar, who's already very invested down there and believes in the project, then why wouldn't we contribute?”
Learn more about SanMar’s support of the Mhotivo School Foundation and how to contribute on sanmar.com.

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ABOUT SANMAR
At SanMar Corporation, we do more than make and sell t-shirts. We build meaningful connections that elevate lives. As the largest supplier of wholesale imprintable clothing and accessories in the United States, our products, and the connections they create impact organizations, individuals, and the world we live in. It all started more than 50 years ago with a business philosophy that has held true since day one: Be Nice and Tell the Truth. Family owned and operated, SanMar is based in Issaquah, Washington, with eight distribution centers nationwide and apparel from more than 30 celebrated brands.

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ABOUT RECIPROCITY ROAD
Reciprocity Road is a pioneering collective of promotional product distributor partners committed to driving business growth, fostering community engagement, and promoting sustainability. With a focus on "Branding Good," Reciprocity Road leverages collective buying power, shared resources, and philanthropic initiatives to create positive change within the industry and the communities it serves.