Giving Back Taking a quick break from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, 100 golfers from dozens of promo companies hit the links for a great cause, raising more than $47,000 for the Promotional Products Education Foundation during the Glen Holt & Fran Ford Memorial Golf Tournament at Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas. The foundation’s largest annual fundraiser saw a nearly 20% growth in proceeds over 2024, with donations supporting scholarships for industry families. Since 1989, PPEF has donated more than $3.6 million to more than 2,000 students. The late Holt, MAS, was a former PPAI board member and Hall of Fame inductee who passed away in 2010, and Fran Ford Jr., CAS, was president of supplier Castelli, a division of The Magnet Group, and PPAI Hall of Fame inductee who passed away in 2018. As a dedicated supporter of PPEF, Ford launched the PPEF Glen Holt Scholarship Golf invitational in 2014. The tournament celebrates their lasting legacies with PPEF scholarships named in their honor. Par-tee Time Once again the hottest ticket in town, The PPAI Expo Party took over Swingers Las Vegas to wrap up the week. Promo pros packed the cutting-edge, indoor mini-golf haven (which opened in November) inside Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino for a raucous time. As the drinks flowed and the music blared, attendees let loose on the dance floor for the “Cupid Shuffle,” “Wobble Baby” and more hits. The party of the year, hosted by PPAI and SAGE, had everything: an open bar, plenty of food, carnival games and even a cotton candy machine. The PPAI Expo Party, held Wednesday night, ahead of The PPAI Expo’s final day, was a fitting, celebratory exclamation point that ushered attendees toward a successful year ahead. The Future The PPAI Expo 2025 was a roaring success, and the Association is already getting started on next year’s event. The PPAI Expo 2026 is headed back to Las Vegas, January 12-15, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Best Of The PPAI EXPO 2025 | Must Read Corrigan is deputy editor at PPAI. PPAI • MARCH 2025 • 37
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