BOSTON, MA (News release) -- Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, today announced the winners of its 2024 Employee Ideas that Matter (EITM) grant program, donating a total of $60,000 to 27 charities in the environmental, healthcare, educational and community spaces.

Inspired by more than two decades of success from its Ideas that Matter grant program - the only operation of its kind in the paper and packaging industry - Sappi established EITM in 2016. The annual program recognizes Sappi employees who support the efforts of nonprofit organizations in their communities and provide them with direct funding. Employees are encouraged to nominate charitable projects that benefit their communities to a panel of judges composed of senior leadership.

"Our EITM program is the embodiment of Sappi's core mission: to create a thriving, sustainable world for everyone. Employees from all levels of our company have participated in EITM, which has provided significant positive social impact throughout the communities we operate in," said Patti Groh, Director of Communications. "Social responsibility is a core value at Sappi, and we're proud to support this year's recipients and the organizations that are meaningful to them and their communities."

2024 EITM recipients include:

• Andrew Skrzypek from Westbrook for Operation Reboot Outdoors

• Art Gist from Cloquet for Lakehead Harvest Show

• Austin Gilboe and Tony Ouellette from Somerset and Tech Center for Spruce Mountain High School Envirothon Team

• Brad Bryant from Westbrook for The Locker Project

• Carol Morin from Portland for Thomas Behan Fund

• Cody Lachance from Somerset for Winslow Elementary School

• Cory Johanneson from Cloquet for Rice Lake Fire Department

• Deanna Baert & Lisa Dyke from Portland for Saco Meals Program

• Estefanie Franco from Boston for Wrentham Public Schools

• Gary Sweeney from Westbrook for Bill of Rights Institute Organization

• Guylaine Chabot from Matane for Volunteer Action Center

• Jen Chase from Portland for China Lake Association

• Justin Finke from Cloquet for Piedmont Heights Youth Hockey (PHYH)

• Katelyn Gendron from Portland for WinterKids

• Katherine Gagnon from Portland for Windham Primary School

• Line Simard and Dany Savard from Matane for C-TA-C

• Michael Greene from Westbrook for Greater Portland New England Mountain Bike Association (GPNEMBA)

• Michael Leslie from Boston for Agassiz Village

• Paul Randall from Somerset for Operation at Ease

• Rae Ann Quirion from Somerset for Kennebec Valley Quilters

• Robert Forsberg from Sales for Danbury Grassroots Academy

• Roby Redwine from Portland for Portland Trails / Stroudwater Bridge Project

• Tara Kimmel from Cloquet for Fond du Lac Reservation

• Timothy Larson from Cloquet for Healing Paws Rescue

• Tyler Psyck from Cloquet for Carlton Fire and Ambulance

• William Wescot from Westbrook for Pleasant River Assembly #45, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

• Zane Brown from Somerset for Solon Vol. Fire Department

To learn more about Sappi's social impact initiatives, visit: https://www.sappi.com.