Worldwise Education, Inc.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.    What is WE’s vision and mission?

Worldwise Education envisions a world full of productive citizens in which individuals, organizations, and corporations work together to enrich the education of children while achieving their personal, professional and philanthropic goals. WE’s mission is to provide school children everywhere with equal access to learning opportunities by supplying schools, teachers and students with educational materials and resources that are in critical need. 

2.    How will WE accomplish their mission?

WE’s goal is to develop a market-based brand and business model for the sale of children’s art that will underwrite the company’s educational initiatives. As donors and customers track WE’s success, like-minded entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide will adopt the WE model, assuring even greater educational opportunities for children everywhere.

3.    When was Worldwise Education (WE) created?

WE began operations in October, 2003.

4.    Who are the principal executives?

Charles Paul, Co-Founder &CEO
Creig Muscato, Chairman
Maureen Feldman, VP Sales
Joe Meiring, VP Creative Director
Peter Pham, VP Production 

5.    Where is WE headquartered?

Our headquarters are located at 1464 East 29th Street, Signal Hill, CA 90755.
Toll Free (866) 771-9800 Tel: (562) 595-9600  Fax; (562) 595-9611 www.WorldwiseEducation.com

6.    Why is WE a for-profit business when philanthropic organizations are traditionally non-profits?

We believe a market-based approach will produce more revenue to fund our educational initiatives. With the capacity to recruit promising talent and develop state-of-the-art marketing, sales and distribution systems, WE’s business-based model will produce attractive, competitively-priced products that offer consumers an added benefit: the knowledge that a portion of their purchase will fund education.

7.    What is Artwork for Education?

Artwork for Education is the nexus of the WE mission. It is a school program that creates a sustainable source of funding from the sale of products using student artwork. Presently, WE utilizes the student art to design custom greeting cards that are in turn sold as PTA/PTO fundraisers. All children have the opportunity to participate and schools receive revenue from the sale of the cards to parents, friends and relatives. To further develop broad-based community support, these cards are offered to local retailers, generating additional revenue for the participating schools.

8.    How does the fundraising program work?

WE prints a custom catalog for each school that displays artwork submissions by grade level, teacher, and child’s first name. Every child receives a copy of the catalog, from which parents, friends and relatives can select designs for purchase. The finished product is a boxed set of twelve 5” X 7” blank notecards of a single design with a suggested retail of $20.50. WE and the PTA/PTO each retain $10 from the sale. To enhance sales and marketability, WE also designs a custom web page for each school on the ArtworkForEducation.com website that displays the complete contents of the catalog for easy on-line ordering by family, friends and co-workers near and far. 

9.    What is WE’s retail strategy?

Using select student artwork, WE professionally reproduces a line of commercial-quality greeting cards for sale through local and national channels. In so doing, we offer a valuable cause-related marketing opportunity to community-based retailers and provide an ongoing revenue stream for schools. Suggested retail for each card is $2.95, with the school receiving a substantial portion from each sale. School participation in this program is on an opt-in basis and each year WE will award a $1000 educational scholarship to the artists whose work appears on the top three nationally best-selling cards.

10. What is WExchange?

WExchange is an Internet site currently under development. It will provide teachers with access to donated and low-cost school supplies obtained from individuals, retailers’ overstock and manufacturers’ excess inventory. It is the third phase of WE’s business plan and is supported in part by revenues generated from the Artwork for Education and retail programs. The availability of supplies and continuously-updated content, as well as webcasts and interactive learning modules, will position WExchange as a leading educational website for both retailers and educators.

 11. How does WExchange work?

On WExchange, teachers can obtain donated surplus school supplies such as paper, pens, pencils, and books. Access to the site will be tiered, beginning with free access for basic features and expanding to subscription-based levels that provide additional content. Parent-teacher organizations and community businesses will be encouraged to adopt a school by covering the monthly access fees. Additional underwriting will come from national retailers who seek access to a demographic that responds to cause-related marketing.

A special feature of WExchange will allow anyone, from parents to teachers to donors, to track the benefits provided to classrooms.  Future enhancements include a WExchange library that will archive educational research and reports that document the scope of need in public schools, and “Cool School,” a virtual classroom that takes teachers and students on dynamic field trips via webcasts and interactive learning modules. A portal with links to partner organizations, noteworthy projects and other efforts devoted to improving education will also be included.

12.  When will the WExchange be available?

The first phase of the WExchange is scheduled to be completed in 2007.

13. Why would a for-profit company partner with WE?

WE’s commitment to invest its revenues in education resonates with many companies that want to be known to their customers as socially responsible organizations. In a market where consumers perceive many products as identical in terms of price, quality and value, a company which aligns itself with a compelling cause stands out. The consumer’s perception of the company improves, and they in turn show their appreciation and brand loyalty through their purchase of the company’s products.

14. Why will consumers purchase WE products?

Research shows that the number one and two causes that people care about are children and education.  A related study by UNICEF shows that if the products of two companies are similar, two-thirds of consumers will purchase from a company that supports a cause they care about. WE’s premium-quality products are competitively priced, with the added draw that they support education.