500 Chicago teachers, non-profits and artists received a farewell gift from the Last Printer on Printer’s Row this past July.
As they closed their plant and prepared to move to the suburbs, Palmer Printing opened their doors for three days so teachers could bundle and roll 100,000 large sheets of fine paper and take them away for their classrooms and studios.
Palmer Printing, which opened in 1937 as E.F. Palmer and Co., invited Chicago teachers, schools and arts organizations to come take what they need from its great selection of fine paper -- 25 skids, approximately 100,000 sheets, of glossy or linen-finished 26 x 40 inch paper, valued at $100,000. Teachers also received posters, office supplies and a popcorn maker! Helping teachers select paper was 80+ year old Ciro Rossini, who began working at Palmer Printing in the 1940’s and purchased the company in the early 1970s. His son, Ed Rossini, is now president of the company and also attended. The Rossinis are eager to tell the rich history of their printing company with the teachers.
“We are happy to make it an event to show the teachers how grateful we are for their work and how much we want to support them,” said Ed Rossini, president of Palmer Printing. “My dad and I believe education is the ticket to making dreams come true.” See some background on Palmer Printing from WTTW Chicago Tonite and Chicago Magazine. For more information, contact info@creativechirx.org.
(Photos by Adam Morgan, Chicago Magazine.)