MINNEAPOLIS/SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Students and teachers at 12 Minnesota schools are starting the new school year with additional classroom essentials following the successful WWE SummerSlam Teacher Supply Drive.
WWE, Minnesota Sports and Events, Kids In Need Foundation, Blaze Credit Union and Mall of America® joined forces this summer to collect school supplies and monetary donations to fill 250 boxes of school supplies for communities across the state.
“Hosting SummerSlam gave us an opportunity to create an impact that extended well beyond an unforgettable weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium,” said Wendy Blackshaw, president and CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events. “Minnesotans enthusiastically stepped up to support teachers and students across our state, and we are incredibly grateful to WWE and each of our partners for making that possible.”
Supplies were delivered to:
- Bruce F. Vento Elementary, St. Paul
- Ellen Hopkins Elementary, Moorhead
- Endazhi-Nitaawiging, Red Lake
- Folwell Elementary, Minneapolis
- Lakes Country Academy, Fergus Falls
- Lismore Colony Elementary, Clinton
- Ogema Elementary School, Ogema
- Onamia Elementary, Onamia
- Stowe Elementary, Duluth
- Success Academy, St. Cloud
- Sumner Elementary, Austin
- TEAM Academy, Waseca
The statewide effort began in July at Mall of America, where Blaze Credit Union launched the campaign with a $10,000 donation. Minnesotans were invited to contribute supplies and purchase raffle tickets for the chance to win tickets to WWE SummerSlam, with proceeds supporting the drive through Kids In Need Foundation.
The campaign culminated during SummerSlam Weekend with WWE Superstars Natalya and Chad Gable joining partners and fans at Mall of America to celebrate the community’s generosity and make a final push for donations. Overall supply and cash contributions collected during the campaign totaled $62,500.
“Teachers should be able to focus on helping students learn and thrive instead of whether their classrooms have the basic supplies they need,” said Rashelle Oxborough of Kids In Need Foundation. "This campaign brought together an incredible group of partners and supporters to equip educators across Minnesota and help students begin the year ready to succeed."
The WWE SummerSlam Teacher Supply Drive was part of a series of community initiatives surrounding WWE SummerSlam, held August 1–2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Please click here for photos and a video of school supply donations. Credit: Kids In Need Foundation.
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About Minnesota Sports and Events
Minnesota Sports and Events is an independent 501c6 organization designed to bring significant economic, reputational, and social impact to the region through the attraction, promotion, and execution of world-class events. MNSE also advances community initiatives associated with each event with a focus on underserved communities and statewide engagement. For more information, visit www.mnsportsandevents.org.
About Blaze Credit Union
Blaze Credit Union is a full-service financial service provider with Minnesota roots dating back to 1934. Serving more than 256,000 members, Blaze manages over $4.8 billion in assets and operates 29 branch locations. Blaze provides trusted guidance and encouragement to help members move forward with confidence—wherever life takes them. Grounded in Midwestern values such as community, integrity, and hard work, Blaze is committed to offering smart financial products, competitive rates, and exceptional service as it fulfills its mission of bettering lives. Start your financial journey at Blaze. For more information, visit blazecu.com.
About Kids In Need Foundation
At Kids In Need Foundation (KINF), we believe every student should have equal access to the resources needed for a quality education. We work to foster equitable learning spaces by providing essential supplies to under-resourced students and teachers nationwide, focusing on schools where 70% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. For more information, visit kinf.org and follow @KidsInNeed on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Mall of America
At 5.6 million square feet, Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America with up to 500 world-class retail stores and restaurants; Nickelodeon Universe, a 7-acre indoor theme park; SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium; FlyOver America; Crayola Experience; and more. The Mall opened in 1992 and is located in Bloomington, Minn., minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and adjacent to MSP International Airport. Follow Mall of America on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. Listen to So Much More – a Mall of America podcast, on all major platforms or watch on YouTube. Download the Mall of America app from the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android.
About WWE
WWE® is the global leader in sports entertainment. The company creates and delivers original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, Premium Live Events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE's TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including Netflix, ESPN, NBCUniversal, USA Network and The CW. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Minnesota Sports and Events
Jora Bart
PR Consultant, Minnesota Sports and Events
651-260-8728
jora@randupr.com
Kathy Ross Pavek
PR Consultant, Minnesota Sports and Events
612-805-6599
kross@mnsportsandevents.org
