HISTORY
Saved by the Box Tops: Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting Schools
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Published 08/07/2026From clipping Box Tops to earning with a simple scan, we're taking a nostalgic trip back through Box Tops history.
For three decades, Box Tops for Education has helped families turn everyday grocery purchases into meaningful support for schools across the country – becoming one of the nation’s longest-running school earnings programs. Now, as Box Tops celebrates its 30th anniversary, we’re taking a look back at how it all began, how the program evolved and the generations of families who have helped make it possible.
Long before earning with a quick scan, there were scissors, envelopes and kitchen tables covered in clipped Box Tops.
When Box Tops for Education launched in 1996, the goal was simple: give families an easy way to support their local schools through General Mills products they were already buying. Following a successful pilot program in California, Box Tops debuted on select Big G cereal boxes, turning an everyday grocery purchase into cash for schools.
It didn't take long for Box Tops to become a beloved school tradition. Families clipped Box Tops together at home, classrooms held friendly competitions, and communities rallied to help their schools reach their goals. The funds schools earned helped pay for classroom supplies, math and robotics programs, playground equipment and field trips that help students learn and thrive.
The momentum was undeniable. By 1998, more than 30,000 schools across the country were participating. Within three years, schools had earned more than $25 million. Ten years later, that total had reached $250 million. Then, in 2004, Box Tops celebrated another major milestone when the one-billionth Box Top was redeemed.
As technology changed the way families shop, the Box Tops program evolved along with it.
In 2019, we introduced the Box Tops for Education app bringing the program into the digital age. Instead of clipping and mailing Box Tops, families could simply scan their grocery receipts to earn cash for their schools. The app made participating faster and easier and opened the door to even more retailers and products.
We continued to advance the digital experience in the years that followed.
In 2021, Box Tops introduced the ‘School in Need’ feature, helping people discover and support schools facing greater funding challenges, even if they didn’t have a personal connection to the school — furthering our commitment to advance equity in education.
Then, in 2024, Connected Accounts, gave families another seamless way to earn for their schools without needing to scan a receipt at Walmart.
This school year, Box Tops for Education is heading back to Bayside High with the cast of “Saved by the Bell” to celebrate 30 years and nearly $1 billion raised for schools nationwide. General Mills, in partnership with Universal Products & Experiences, is reuniting the iconic cast for Saved by the Box Tops, a feel-good back-to-school campaign inspired by the beloved television series and the everyday impact of Box Tops for Education.
Now real-life parents, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley Lauren are back together at Bayside High, this time celebrating how Box Tops for Education has helped support classrooms across the country for the past three decades and encouraging families and community members to get involved.
Bringing the campaign beyond the halls of Bayside, we will award $10,000 each to 30 schools in need to help fund programs and resources for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year.
For 30 years, Box Tops for Education has shown how small actions can make a big difference when schools, teachers and communities come together.
Want to join the celebration? Families can support their schools — and score free snacks — through eligible Box Tops purchases. Simply download the Box Tops for Education app, purchase participating products and scan your receipt within 14 days to earn cash for your school.
To learn more visit BoxTops4Education.com or follow @btfe on Instagram for updates throughout the back-to-school season.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the Box Tops journey. Here’s to continuing to support schools, celebrate teachers and create opportunities for students to thrive.
The nostalgic “Saved by the Box Tops” campaign brings together iconic classmates, retro-inspired packaging and $300,000 in funding for schools nationwide.
