When it comes to raising money, the National PTA has moved way beyond bake sales. The organization has lent its name and logo to the Office Depot chain of office-supply stores for an undisclosed fee.
Critics say the deal demeans the nonprofit organization.
Office Depot launched the Supporting School Values program last month, placing the National PTA's name, logo, telephone number, and World Wide Web address on advertisements, including 90 million newspaper inserts, television commercials, coupon books, shopping bags, and signs. The company also provided laptop computers for state PTA offices and the national headquarters in Chicago. Because schools are crying out for revenue sources. Linking the respected organization's name with a commercial endeavor is the wrong way to generate money, said Alex Molnar, the director of the Center for Analysis of Commercialism in Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I can't imagine the thinking that went on in this decision.