Message from IPO Education Foundation President, Henry Hadad
As we embark on another exciting year, I want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who engaged with us in so many meaningful ways – whether you shared our stories, used our educational resources, or contributed to our organization. Your involvement is essential to our success, and together, we have achieved so much. In 2024, we created and launched the “IP Education for Next Gen Innovators” toolkit and introduced over 2,500 students to these key concepts. We launched a PR campaign to highlight that IP is everywhere and in the fabric of every innovation, brand and creation that touches our lives. Since October we have increased our audience on social media, reaching more than 86,000 people with our videos! We hosted a successful celebration of innovation in December and raised over $58,000 to support Foundation programs. As we look ahead to the months to come, we are thrilled about the activities and initiatives that will propel our mission forward.

This year, our priorities remain clear: we are committed to educating the next generation about the vital role intellectual property plays in driving prosperity and the enrichment of our communities. We will continue to elevate awareness of and appreciation for the role IP plays in driving innovation, prosperity, and welfare of all.

But we cannot do this alone. Your involvement is crucial to our success. That’s why I encourage you to continue to engage with us as we roll out our new initiatives. This includes the continuation of our PR campaign, the launch of exciting new educational resources, and the celebration of the innovators who have made a lasting impact on society. We cannot wait to share the progress we make in these areas and, most importantly, to have you by our side as we achieve these important milestones.

We encourage you to reach out to foundation@ipo.org to learn more and get involved. Let’s make this year one of innovation, education, and lasting change.

IP is Everywhere!
IPO Education Foundation has been busy at work expanding current programs and creating new ways to promote the value of IP because of our donors. Because of the generosity of our supporters, we are raising awareness about intellectual property. The Foundation’s ongoing PR campaign focuses on elevating awareness of the value of IP as a driver of innovation and demonstrating that IP is everywhere! IPOEF partner, Jeremiah Fennell, has attended events such as the Awards Celebration, Super Bowl, and the New York Toy Fair to talk to brands, innovators, and the public about IP. At the Super Bowl, Jeremiah spoke to companies like Wilson, Franklin, and Guardian Sports who use IP to protect their innovations, from patents on lacing technology that helps kids learn to throw a football easier to one size fits all helmet covers that reduce impact during in-game collisions. At the Toy Fair, brands Mattel, Spin Master, Melissa & Doug and more spoke about the need to protect their innovations in order to continue to bring new ideas to the market while keeping the old magic of iconic toys alive for future generations.

Check out some of his recent travels and make sure to follow the Foundation on social media to keep up with our latest activities promoting the value of IP as a driver of innovation!

What’s Next for IPOEF?
A huge thank you to IPOEF volunteers and donors who dedicate their time and resources to support the Foundation’s mission of bringing awareness of the importance of IP to the next generation of innovators. We would not be able to make an impact without your support. IPOEF has some new, exciting activities in the works, and we can’t wait to share them. Here’s a sneak peek into activities that will be rolled out later this year.

IP Education for Next Gen Innovators Goes Digital
The Foundation is taking the current “IP Education for Next Gen Innovators” toolkit to the next level. We are creating an online course for educators and non-IP professionals to learn about intellectual property. The goal of this digital resource is to make IP accessible and easy to understand in order for non-IP professionals to feel comfortable teaching IP. With this approach, the Foundation aims to reach a greater number of students while demonstrating the importance of IP to invention and STEM education.

Work with Your IP Pal, an AI Mentor
As part of IPOEF’s public relations campaign to increase awareness about IP to students and the general public, the Foundation is developing the IP Pal, a free tool that uses AI to educate innovators of all ages about the IP process. Users can interact with the tool by asking questions and the AI mentor will share valuable insights and help navigate the IP process. Keep an eye out for more about this important resource around World IP Day!

How YOU Can Support the Foundation
There are many ways that you can support IPOEF. Foundation activities are not possible without the support of our donors, sponsors, and volunteers.

Help IPOEF Elevate Awareness of the Value of IP
The Foundation wants to share YOUR stories demonstrating the value of IP as part of our ongoing PR campaign. We are looking for stories about impactful inventions, master inventors that contribute to the IP system, or for IPO members to connect us with your companies’ communications or brand teams. Like the videos above of Jeremiah Fennell speaking to brands like Franklin, Guardian Sports, and Mattel, your stories can reach a broad audience to demonstrate the importance of IP. Contact foundation@ipo.org if you have a story you would like to share or if you’d like to learn more about this opportunity.

Bring IP Education To Your Community
Have you heard about the “IP Education for Next Gen Innovators” toolkit but are not sure where to get started? Educate Committee members want to help you find ways to bring these resources into your community and involve your full team in the process. Contact foundation@ipo.org today to schedule a call with an Educate Committee member. They will share tips, best practices, and strategies to help you get your team involved and connect with the right people and programs within your community. We hope that IPO members will take advantage of this resource to learn how to best utilize the toolkit in their teams and communities.

The Educate Committee is always looking for new members who want to volunteer their time to working towards educating the next generation of innovators. If you would like to volunteer, indicate your interest here.

Donate to IPO Education Foundation
IPOEF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that relies on the support of donors to educate the next generation about the importance of IP. These new and exciting programs and activities are only possible because of our donors. Your support directly impacts the education of students around the country and opens their worlds to the value of IP. Visit IPOEF.org to donate today.

Thank You Platinum Donor

If you’d like to learn more about IPOEF or become a donor, visit IPOEF.org.