A school near SanMar’s (asi/84863) Choloma, Honduras, manufacturing operations has 22 new classrooms and other amenities, thanks to the ongoing support of the Counselor Top 40 supplier.

And now, after the two-year construction project is complete, SanMar said it plans to continue ongoing support to the Mhotivo school’s infrastructure and scholarship programs as part of a partnership pledge from Reciprocity Road, an alliance of 13 promotional products distributors across the U.S. and Canada that has a focus on philanthropic endeavors.

SanMar (asi/84863) invested in a major construction project at the Mhotivo School in Honduras.

The Mhotivo School Foundation, founded in 1992, provides a safe and accessible space for students to receive an education, participate in athletic programs, and get access to technology and other technical skills. The school’s coursework includes 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 – a project that would accommodate 600 additional students. Construction was 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, SanMar president and a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of the most influential people in promo. “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, which supports various industry education organizations and causes local to its members through its BrandGood initiatives, decided to broaden the scope of its giving to a global scale after visiting the Mhotivo School with SanMar in April. The distributor alliance has committed to investing in infrastructure improvements and scholarships for Mhotivo students.

“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.”

Bart Simpson, president of Flywheel Brands (asi/212986) and a Reciprocity Road partner, added that he feels really good about investing in the Mhotivo 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?”

SanMar ranked first on Counselor’s most recent list of the top suppliers in the promotional products industry, with estimated 2023 revenue of $3.6 billion.