Horace Mann and Crayola Are Giving Educators a Chance to Recharge Their Creativity

Rhea-AI Summary

Horace Mann (NYSE: HMN) and Crayola announced a national Creativity Retreat Sweepstakes tied to Crayola Creativity Week (Jan 26–Feb 1, 2026).

The program will award 20 grand-prize educators a four-day creativity retreat in Southern California plus $1,000 in Crayola supplies for their schools, and 25 runner-ups will receive $500 in supplies. Entries are open through Jan 19, 2026. Crayola Creativity Week provides free week-long resources and last year reached more than 13 million students across 120 countries and 90,000 learning sites.

Insights

Corporate Partnerships Analyst

Horace Mann partners with Crayola on a nationwide educator sweepstakes and sponsorship of Crayola Creativity Week 2026.

The collaboration channels brand marketing into education through a national sweepstakes offering 20 grand prizes that include a four-day retreat and $1,000 in Crayola supplies and 25 runner-up prizes of $500 in supplies. Sponsorship of the week-long virtual event (running Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, 2026) amplifies Horace Mann's outreach to teachers and schools by associating its financial-services brand with classroom creativity and professional renewal.

Key dependencies and risks include the actual reach and engagement of the program versus stated participation benchmarks and the cost-to-benefit of promotional spend for customer acquisition or retention. The announcement cites prior scale (over 13 million students and 90,000 learning sites previously), which supports potential visibility but does not disclose metrics like promotional cost, lead capture, or conversion targets to Horace Mann.

For near-term monitoring, watch enrollment and sweepstakes entry volumes through the Jan. 19, 2026 cutoff, engagement metrics during Crayola Creativity Week, and any follow-up reporting of participant conversion into Horace Mann customer interactions over the following quarter. Over a 3–12 month horizon, assess whether this sponsorship yields measurable marketing KPIs (brand lift, leads, policy inquiries) relative to the program cost.

Nationwide Creativity Retreat Sweepstakes helps educators
strengthen their creative energy as part of Crayola Creativity Week 2026

EASTON, Pa., Nov. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Crayola, a brand synonymous with color, creativity, and education, alongside Horace Mann Educators Corporation (NYSE: HMN), a leading provider of financial services and solutions for educators, today announced exciting new details about their 2026 Crayola Creativity Week partnership. Together, the brands are launching a national Creativity Retreat Sweepstakes that includes a refreshing retreat and creativity prizes for educators to help spark imagination and support creative learning.

As an official sponsor of Crayola Creativity Week, Horace Mann helps Crayola bring the free, week-long educational event to schools, homes, and libraries with inspiring and interactive content that support creative learning across multiple subject areas and delivered by world-renowned creative talent. Last year, more than 13 million students from over 120 countries and 90,000 learning sites participated in Crayola Creativity Week.

Designed to strengthen creative confidence in educators and bring fresh ideas back to the classroom, the sweepstakes will reward 20 grand-prize winners with a four-day creativity retreat in Southern California. The retreat will feature hands-on sessions with mixed media artists, poets, and art therapists to help educators address burnout, discover their creative style, and plan for the future. Educators will also have time for leisure activities such as pool, beach, and spa time to connect with other educators and recharge their creative batteries.

The grand prize winners will also receive $1,000 in Crayola art supplies for their schools. Additionally, 25 educators will receive runner-up prizes of $500 in Crayola art supplies, equipping classrooms with vibrant materials that make creative learning possible.

"Horace Mann was founded by educators, for educators," said Marita Zuraitis, President and CEO of Horace Mann. "The Crayola Creativity Week and Retreat Sweepstakes is an opportunity to recognize the incredible impact that educators have on the lives of their students, to help them renew their creative spark, and to continue supporting them as they build classrooms where imagination thrives." 

"Educators are the heartbeat of creativity in classrooms, and we know how important it is for them to feel inspired and supported," said Victoria Lozano, Crayola's Chief Marketing Officer. "Through our partnership with Horace Mann, we're giving teachers the opportunity to recharge their creative energy and return to their students with new ideas, confidence, and tools that make learning vibrant and engaging. This retreat is about celebrating educators, refilling their cup, and empowering them to lead with creativity."

The partnership comes as Crayola approaches the fifth year of Crayola Creativity Week, taking place Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, 2026. The annual virtual event gives educators and parents resources to help nurture children's creativity and provides children with the tools to bring their ideas to life, encouraging imaginative expression and innovative thinking.

Through engaging, standards-aligned activities and resources, Crayola Creativity Week integrates hands-on experiences with literacy, STEAM, and social-emotional learning. The brand partners with companies, education associations, artists, actors, authors, and entrepreneurs to bring this program to life through celebrity talent videos, downloadable handouts to follow and create along, daily prizes, and a livestream virtual school assembly. The daily themes address embracing ideas, reaching goals, empowering communities, and more to make creativity an essential part of the classroom, which extends beyond the week.

Crayola Creativity Week is a signature activation of Crayola's Campaign for Creativity, the brand's advocacy initiative that reframes, champions and celebrates creativity as a mindset essential to lifelong growth and wellbeing, and provides resources and inspiration to encourage more creative moments at home and in school.

Enrollment for Crayola Creativity Week is currently open at Crayola.com/CreativityWeek.
Entries are being accepted now through Jan. 19, 2026, for the Horace Mann Creativity Retreat Sweepstakes.

For more information about Crayola Creativity Week and Crayola Campaign for Creativity, visit www.crayola.com. For further information about Horace Mann, visit www.horacemann.com.

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SOURCE Crayola

FAQ

What is the Horace Mann and Crayola Creativity Retreat Sweepstakes for HMN shareholders?

A partnership promotion awarding 20 educators a four-day retreat and $1,000 in Crayola supplies, plus 25 runner-ups with $500 supplies; it is a marketing and community program tied to Horace Mann (HMN).

When is Crayola Creativity Week 2026 and how does it relate to HMN?

Crayola Creativity Week runs Jan 26–Feb 1, 2026; Horace Mann is an official sponsor and co-launched the educator sweepstakes.

What are the sweepstakes key dates and entry deadline for HMN-related promotion?

Entries are being accepted now through Jan 19, 2026 for the Horace Mann Creativity Retreat Sweepstakes.

How many educators will receive prizes in the Horace Mann sweepstakes?

A total of 45 educators: 20 grand-prize retreat winners and 25 runner-up classroom supply winners.

What do grand-prize winners receive in the HMN–Crayola promotion?

Each grand-prize winner receives a four-day creativity retreat in Southern California and $1,000 in Crayola art supplies for their school.

Where can educators enroll for Crayola Creativity Week and enter the HMN sweepstakes?

Enrollment and sweepstakes details are available at Crayola.com/CreativityWeek and horacemann.com for more company information.