PPB December 2019

Rod Br own , CAS I f you happen to journey to Malawi, Africa, you may just stumble across a MadeToOrder pen or two. In the landlocked, southeast African country— which is one of the least developed nations in the world and home to one of the highest HIV rates globally—a ballpoint pen is a rarity; a treasured gift. In the promotional world, ballpoint pens fill the need of brand recognition and recall, but in Malawi, they are not looked at as commerce, but as a luxury. In the country’s rudimentary schoolhouses, orphanages and even hospitals, as rare as pens are, there’s seldom even paper to write on. Rod Brown, CAS, the founder and retired chief financial officer of distributor MadeToOrder—and the recipient of PPAI’s 2020 H. Ted Olsen Humanitarian Award—has made the 10,197-mile trip from his headquarters in Pleasanton, California, to Malawi five times in 10 years. And each time he goes, be brings a few heaping handfuls of MadeToOrder-branded pens, along with 200 pounds of luggage, packed to the brim with donated, branded soccer balls that he deflates to pack, along with hats, t-shirts and other goods donated from SanMar, BamBams, Hit Promotional Products, PowerStick and other Rod Brown, CAS, of MadeToOrder does what he can to help children and families living in Malawi, Africa, and Tijuana, Mexico, breathe easier. by Danielle Renda Helping In A Big Way In the past 10 years, Rod Brown, CAS, has made five trips to Malawi, Africa, bringing hats, t-shirts, soccer balls, pens and hope to the people there. 88 | DECEMBER 2019 | THINK