Could Packaging Labels Pay for Your Child's Education?

Did you know that by collecting some packaging labels you could contribute to your child's education?

It's true. A number of companies have programs in place where package labels can be exchanged for cash for your child. Most of the programs donate cash directly to your child's school. However, one program allows you to establish a college fund for your child and the cash from products purchased is deposited directly into that fund.

This article examines the most popular corporate education programs: General Mills Box Tops for Education, Upromise®, Campbell Labels For Education, and Tyson Foods Project A+.

Box Tops For Education

There are three ways parents can earn cash for schools through Box Tops for Education: clipping Box Top logos, buying through the online Box Tops portal, or getting a Box Tops for Education Visa® card.

The bright pink Box Top logos can be found on products ranging from cereal to facial tissue to plastic storage bags. Parents and students clip the symbol and turn it in at school enrolled in the program. The school redeems the boxtop for 10 cents. 

The Box Tops for Education site, www.boxtops4education.com, also serves as an online portal for merchants such as JC Penney, Lands End, Sears, and even Walmart. Once you register at the portal and select your school, a percentage of the qualified purchases made through the Box Tops portal are donated to the school. Most donations run around 2%, but Zoobooks, for example, will donate 25% of purchases to the school.

The third way to earn cash for your school is to use a Box Tops for Education Visa® card. Using this card garners your school 1% of every purchase made.