Happy smiling boy in glasses with thumb up is going to school for the first time. Child with school bag and book. Kid indoors of the class room with blackboard on a background. Back to school.

Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) announced the donation of $1.3 million in its hand sanitizer product to under-resourced schools through a partnership with Kids In Need Foundation (KINF). The donation marks the launch of RCP's Back to Clean, an initiative to promote the safe restart of in-person programs this summer and academic classes this fall, as well as a variety of industries such as office buildings, food service and retail through products, tools, and resources to help keep facilities clean.   

As primary and secondary schools across the country shift from a virtual or hybrid model to in-person this summer and fall, high visibility and easy access to cleaning and hand hygiene products is critical to provide confidence for school staff, students, and parents during the sustained school openings. According to recent data, 70 percent of people report hand sanitizer at all entrances is "very important" to feel safe in public spaces (according to Deloitte), and eight out of 10 educators support a return to in-person learning if safety guardrails like cleaning and sanitizing are in place (according to AFT) to remain open. 

"RCP's Back to Clean offers education facility managers, staff and administrators the tools they need for a safe and sustained reopening," said Mike McDermott, CEO of Newell Brands' Commercial Business Unit. "While the pandemic fundamentally changed the face of in-person learning, we remain committed to supporting schools and students as they continue their reopening efforts. Our partnership with Kids In Need Foundation is just one way we are offering unique and actionable hand hygiene solutions."

As part of the Back to Clean launch, RCP teamed up with Kids In Need Foundation to identify under-resourced teachers and schools across the country from California to Pennsylvania who need critical school supplies, including hand sanitizer. More than 270,000 hand sanitizer bottles will be delivered to 11 locations including Atlanta, Garden Grove, California, Nashville, Tennessee, North Bend, Oregon, St. Louis, Tampa, Florida, West Chester, Pennsylvania and Carrollton, McAllen, Houston and Laredo, Texas.

"While America's teachers and school staff navigate the reopening challenges during this ongoing pandemic, there remains a critical need for school supplies – which now includes cleaning and sanitization products for every classroom, cafeteria and playground," said Corey Gordon, CEO of Kids in Need Foundation. "We are grateful for the generous donation of hand sanitizer product from Rubbermaid Commercial Products to equip 11 locations that serve more than 651 schools and 295,737 students."