Brand It Blue

A Community-Centered Donation Drive Supporting Children’s Mental Health

Since 1996, The Express Employment Professionals Companies have supported local community organizations who serve and bring hope to the Greater Grand Rapids community. The Brand It Blue initiative was born out of this desire to serve and partner with local nonprofits to help them carry out their missions. Every year, we invite local employers to partner with us through Brand It Blue by acting as a collection site for a month-long donation drive, collecting much needed items in support of a nonprofit who is making a big impact in West Michigan.

Save the Date: Brand It Blue is coming in May 2026!
This year, our month-long donation drive will support the Pine Rest Pediatric Behavioral Health Center, opening in March 2026. This facility will be the first of its kind in Michigan dedicated to comprehensive, compassionate care for children facing mental health challenges, eating disorders, and substance use struggles.

Together with local businesses and organizations across our community, Brand It Blue will make a measurable difference in the lives of children and families who urgently need support.

Make an Impact — Join Us!

Click to download the Brand It Blue Community Partnership Proposal.

We invite organizations across the Greater Grand Rapids area to partner with us by serving as donation collection sites in the month of May. This initiative raises awareness and provides much-needed items for children seeking care at the Pine Rest Pediatric Behavioral Health Center.

Our goal is to make it simple for your organization to get involved. We handle the logistics—including delivery, pick-up, and coordination—making it easy for your team to focus on participation and impact.

What to Expect:

Late March 2026: Registration open for organizations interested in hosting a donation collection site (if you want to commit now, we are happy to have you!)
May 1, 2026: Deadline to commit as a participating collection site
Week of May 4: Donation bins and wish lists delivered to participating host sites
May 2026: Month-long donation drive
Early June: Express picks up donations and delivers them to Pine Rest

Download: The Brand It Blue Community Partnership Proposal for leadership or committee review
Questions or early sign-up: Contact Casey Jankoska, Director of Client Relations, at Casey.Jankoska@ExpressPros.com

About The Pine Rest Pediatric Center for Behavioral Health

Opening in March 2026, the Pine Rest Pediatric Behavioral Health Center will be the first facility of its kind in Michigan—designed entirely for children at a time when the need for pediatric mental health care is urgent and growing.

Purpose-built for healing, the center features a warm and welcoming family spaces—creating a place where children feel safe, supported, and understood.

Expanding Care for Thousands of Children

Sadly, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34, and nearly one in five children face mental or emotional challenges. Access to comprehensive care is essential, and this center will expand capacity dramatically—serving thousands more children every year:

800 more children annually through expanded inpatient care
10,000 more children annually through specialty outpatient services
7,500+ children annually through urgent care and telehealth

Through Brand It Blue, our community has the opportunity to support a center that will bring hope, care, and healing to children and families when they need it most.

Learn More About the Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health

Brand It Blue Impact Through The Years

The Express Employment Professionals Companies in Grand Rapids believe that with hope anything is possible. That is why we have been supporting the work of nonprofit organizations in our community for nearly 30 years in a variety of ways. Through the Brand It Blue Initiative, we have most recently partnered with organizations like AYA Youth Collective, Kids Food Basket, Helen Devos Children's Hospital, SECOM Resource Center, American Cancer Society, and Wedgwood Christian Services. Check out the videos below to see the impact participating businesses and their teams have made on these organizations and the individuals they support.