PEOPLE

HBI Invests in Students’ Future Through Back-to-School Initiative

September 2025

HBI donates school supplies to over 8,500 students in the Dominican Republic, bringing affordability and comfort to those in our community.

At HBI, comfort goes beyond clothing. This is why our annual back-to-school initiative in the DR is so important. By donating bookbags, notebooks, pencils, and other supplies to students in our community, we can invest in the next generation’s education, while reducing the financial impact of children attending school for our associates.

Through this year’s initiative, we donated over 6,000 school kits to the children of our associates. We also extend the drive to those in the community, donating the remaining kits to children in Santo Domingo and Bonao.

“Our back-to-school program is more than an initiative; it’s a commitment to our people and their families,” Freddy Vanderpool, Senior HR Manager, said. “By supporting over 8,500 children, we invest in education and the bright futures of the next generation.”

Since the program’s launch in 2007, we have assisted over 165,000 individuals in receiving necessary school supplies.

Along with our initiative in the DR, we also support associates in our global headquarters in Winston-Salem, N.C., with the costs of back-to-school supplies.

These efforts contribute to our goal of positively impacting the lives of over 500,000 individuals each year. Learn more on our People page.