The Plastics Academy, along with SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association, and the Future of Plastics Foundation presented a $5,000 check to the Plastics Pioneers Association’s (PPA’s) Education Fund in support of future education programs and scholarships. The funds were a preliminary donation by the three groups, which have agreed to donate 10% of the net proceeds from the 2015 Plastics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to the PPA Education Fund.

Jay Gardiner, president of the Plastics Academy, presented the $5,000 check to the PPA Education Fund at the PPA’s Winter Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. “This represents a down payment on a pledge made by myself and Bill Carteaux, president and CEO of SPI, at last year’s meetings,” Gardiner said.

The PPA Education Fund is administered by the Society of Plastics Engineers Foundation, which solicits scholarship candidates and collects applications. The program is funded entirely by donations like the ones awarded by the Plastics Academy, SPI, and the Future of the Plastics Foundation.

“Supporting plastics education through the PPA Education Fund is just one way that plastics professionals can invest in our industry’s future,” Carteaux says. “By supporting the Fund, SPI, the Plastics Academy and the Future of Plastics Foundation are demonstrating our commitment to creating new opportunities for young people to discover exciting new careers in plastics. We’re thrilled to present this $5,000 investment now, and look forward to a successful Plastics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony so that we can present those proceeds at the PPA’s fall meeting later in 2015.”