Everyone is Talking About Millcraft's Buy & Give Paper Program
Discover why – and see what they’re saying.
Often described as office paper, or everyday paper, copy paper could also be described in terms of specifics like 92 bright, 20 lb. basis weight, or available in sizes including 8.5 x 11, 8.5 x 11 3-hole-punch, 8.5 x 14, and 11 x 17.
What ordinary copy paper isn’t often described as? A vehicle for funding a nonprofit that works to cure childhood cancer. An instrument that provides food on weekends for school-aged children who might otherwise go hungry. A product that brings hope to families facing critical illness, an avenue to touch hundreds of thousands of lives throughout America. A lifeline.
“I don’t look at it as copy paper, I look at it as a lifeline,” says Kim Holsclaw, Managing Director, Blessings in a Backpack - Louisville Chapter. “One might say it’s just copy paper, but to us, it’s changing lives.”
Why is everyone talking about Millcraft’s Buy & Give paper program? Because Millcraft’s Buy & Give paper program, with the support of many, transforms ordinary copy paper into a chance to be part of something extraordinary.
About Buy & Give
Established in 2014, Millcraft’s Buy & Give paper program grew out of Millcraft’s mission to create meaningful impact within Millcraft’s communities, and to give back to those in need. The initiative provides businesses the opportunity to support local charities through routine purchases of Millcraft’s Buy & Give brand office paper. For every carton of paper purchased, Millcraft donates $1 to the program.
Millcraft partners with Domtar – the leading producer of uncoated papers in North America – to produce and market Buy & Give multi-purpose paper throughout Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Since its inception through Millcraft’s 2023 fiscal year, Buy & Give has generated more than $725,000 within Midwest communities served by select non-profit organizations in each of Millcraft’s geographic service areas:
- Blessings in a Backpack (Louisville)
- C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital/University of Michigan Health System (Detroit)
- Easter Seals/The Miracle League of North Oakland (Detroit)
- Hospice of Cincinnati (Cincinnati)
- Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton (Dayton)
- Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana (Fort Wayne/Indianapolis)
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Columbus)
- Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt (Nashville)
- Prayers from Maria (Cleveland)
"Buy & Give started as a simple idea to use everyday copy paper as a means for local charitable giving. Today, it stands as a pillar of Millcraft's mission - to meaningfully impact the communities in which we work each and every day - that our entire team now works to support," say Millcraft President and CEO Travis Mlakar. "Being able to give back in a small but meaningful measure to these amazing organizations, it's something in which we all take collective pride."
What Millcraft Employees Say
“Customers have so many options for copy paper,” says Pablo Diaz, Division Manager of Millcraft Louisville. “They purchase Buy & Give paper because they want to be part of helping.”
Diaz, who joined Millcraft from a 20-year career with another company, says Millcraft’s Buy & Give program was influential in his decision. He says he was drawn to the fourth-generation family-owned business who was willing to be part of, and do something about, helping those in need.
“Working with Millcraft feels like a family, where you’re part of something special,” Diaz says. “We’re touching lives with the Buy & Give program.”
Millcraft Vice President and Columbus Regional Manager Eric Michel says Millcraft’s relationship with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and On Our Sleeves has inspired and energized Millcraft sales teams. “It’s not just selling copy paper,” Michel says. “The conversation around Buy & Give paper has become ‘Let’s go out and talk about giving back to the community and helping kids’.”
“It’s more than just a business relationship,” Michel says of Millcraft’s Buy & Give beneficiaries. “It’s personal to us. These are our friends, our communities, too. We want to make an impact, we want to give back.”
What Buy & Give Beneficiaries Say
Angie Brinegar, RN, MSN and Chief Marketing Officer of Hospice of Cincinnati says,
Brinegar says Millcraft’s Buy & Give Paper program reminds her of the perspective of the power of one. “Copy paper is such an everyday, ordinary item. Yet with Millcraft’s Buy & Give Paper, one person can make a purchase and become part of something greater that affects so many people.”
“It’s amazing to see how Millcraft brings people and communities together through their Buy & Give paper,” says Dominique Stallings, Advancement Officer Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana. “It’s something people need and use every day, and Millcraft makes the purchase meaningful.”
Kim Holsclaw, Managing Director, Blessings in a Backpack - Louisville Chapter says, “One might say it’s just copy paper, but to us, it’s changing lives. I don’t look at it as copy paper, I look at it as a lifeline. Without people like Millcraft helping this mission, we couldn’t do what we do. We’re not as well-known as some of the larger programs. The fact that they saw our mission, and have supported us, it’s amazing.”
Senior Vice President, Outreach of Nationwide Children’s Hospital Niki Shafer says. “Millcraft’s Buy & Give program is a very creative way to involve their associates and customers in being able to give back to local communities and causes.”
What Customers Say
Adam Holtvogt, Owner of Bishko Automotive Literature in Ohio, says his company has worked with Millcraft for more than 15 years — and 90% of the products Bishko offers are printed on Millcraft’s Buy & Give paper.
“On the business side, we stick with Millcraft because they continually supply our modest business with high quality grade paper and it’s like, I place the order and it shows up. They keep us rolling,” Holtvogt says. “On the social side, working with Millcraft and the Buy & Give program has been a really positive experience, too.”
“Seeing that they’re giving back to communities,” Holtvogt continues, “builds on our core values and who we aspire to be as a company. It’s about building community, giving back, and aligning with organizations like Millcraft who want to help.”
Why is everyone talking about Millcraft’s Buy & Give paper program? Because Millcraft’s Buy & Give paper program, with the support of many, transforms ordinary copy paper into a chance to be part of something extraordinary.
By: Jen W. O’Deay
To learn more about the Buy & Give program in your community, Just ask.