January is National Mentoring Month

Throughout the 12 years since Crestline relocated to central Maine from New York, associates have been active in the Adopt-a-School partnership pioneered by its parent company.

During the last three years alone, Crestline associates volunteered more than 500 hours at Montello Elementary School, a K-6 school serving more than 800 students in the Lewiston Public School District. Crestline associates have given their time to Montello students in numerous ways, including helping beginning readers brush up on their skills, building relationships during an after-school mentoring program, running a math club for gifted students, having students shadow them at work, exchanging email correspondence, serving picnic food during an outside fun day, and helping to organize an annual Oscar-style “Night of the Stars” celebration for the school’s most talented young writers. Many of these volunteer hours took place during the workday.

Such business/school partnerships benefit more than just the individual kids whose lives are touched. They refresh the associates, themselves, and enrich the community where they work. Consider reaching out to young people in your community by creating an Adopt-a-School partnership between your business and a local school.

For tips and advice on starting a local mentoring organization for your area’s youth, visit www.mentoring.org.

January is Family Fit Lifestyle Month!

Fitness is a lifelong commitment that is made easier, and more fun, with the help of others. Healthy habits begin in the home, and activities that promote wellness can create meaningful opportunities for families to come together.

Promote family fitness with custom imprinted exercise accessory from Crestline. Flying discs encourage families to get outside and play together, travel workout kits make getting exercise more convenient, even when on the run, and pedometers provide a valuable tool for tracking progress. You can find these items, and many more, on Crestline’s Health and Safety page.

Image note: Double Dutch Jump Rope – This classic jump rope makes it easy to encourage fitness in a fun way.

January is National Poison Prevention Awareness Month

Poisonings are the second leading cause of death by injury in the United States, after motor-vehicle accidents. Approximately 70 percent of accidental poisonings are preventable.

Children are especially in danger from accidental poisoning. Seventy-nine percent of all poison control center cases involve children, and 64 percent occur in children under age 5. Acetaminophen, antifreeze, berries, mushrooms, camphor, fuel, insecticides, iron preparations, pool chemicals, rat poisons, and rubbing alcohol are among the poisonous substances most often ingested by children.

Help prevent poisonings, and spread the word about poison control hotlines, with a poison prevention awareness campaign. Crestline has everything you need to educate your community on how to prevent and respond to accidental poisoning.

Stickers, magnets, and awareness bracelets can help you spread the word about poison prevention. Fun items like puzzles, crayons, and stuffed animals are a great way to capture kids’ attention with this important message.

For more information about poison prevention, visit http://www.poisonprevention.org/. To reach your local poison control center, call 1-800-222-1222.

Promote Financial Wellness

January is National Financial Wellness Month, and what better time than the New Year to make a fresh start toward healthy financial habits?

National Financial Wellness Month is a great time for banks, credit unions, brokers, credit counseling services, planning consultants, insurance agents and others to educate the public on sound financial practices.

Crestline has thousands of promotional items available to help you promote financial wellness. Visit our financial specialty store for several items hand-picked for the finance industry. Piggy banks, money clips, and novelty items such as dollar sign clips and money-themed pencils, offer fun ways to promote financial wellness. Many general categories, such as pens and calculators, also make popular giveaways for financial promotions.

Image note: Dollar Sign Stress Ball - Stress the importance of solid financial planning with this fun dollar sign-shaped stress reliever.

January is National Blood Donor Month

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Do your part to save lives by donating blood, or hosting a blood drive at your company.

Crestline has many effective promotional items to help you raise awareness about the importance of donating blood, including fun syringe-shaped pens and highlighters, and blood drop-shaped stress balls. Awareness bracelets and t-shirts with a simple message to "Give Blood" also make great giveaways or incentives.

For more facts about blood donation, or information on how or where to donate, visit the American Red Cross Web site.

Image note: Blood Drop Beanie – This cute, cuddly beanie will help you drop the hint about donating blood!

Thank Your Customers

January 4-8 is National Thank Your Customers Week. It may sound like a cliché, but without customers, your businesses couldn't do what it does. Take some time to express your gratitude to your customers for their loyalty.

Crestline has hundreds of custom imprinted promotional products perfect for saying "thank you." Visit our corporate gifts store for some great customer giveaways and executive gifts. Popular customer gifts include drinkware, calculators, clocks, technological gadgets, and food. Crestline's talking Thank You Pen makes a fun gift that will touch anyone's heart. No matter what gift you choose, you customers will remember your appreciation.

Image note: Thank You Inspirational Book - A heart-warming book filled with inspiring quotes to express your gratitude.