Wayne Homes Goes All Out For Charities
In a year like 2009, when it seemed that everybody was struggling just to make ends meet, you might expect charitable giving to sag. At Wayne Homes, the giving kept right on going. The company's Not-So-Random Acts of Kindness program has another big year.
(PRWEB) January 30, 2010
In a year like 2009, when it seemed that everybody was struggling just to make ends meet, you might expect charitable giving to sag. At Wayne Homes, the giving kept right on going.
“When times are tough, it’s harder to give,” says JoAnn McClaskey of Wayne Homes. “But that’s when giving is even more important.” Every year, Wayne Homes coordinates a variety of charitable activities, which the company calls Not-So-Random Acts of Kindness. Everyone is encouraged to participate: employees, customers, suppliers and the general public.
“Thanks to everybody pitching in, we were able to give about as much in 2009 as we did in 2008,” says McClaskey, who helped to spearhead this year’s effort.
Spreading the wealth
Instead of simply writing a single corporate check to a single organization, Wayne Homes tries to get a lot of people to contribute to a lot of local charities. “There are so many groups that are trying to help their communities, and we really want to spread the wealth” McClaskey says. “Besides, it feels good to give. Why not let more people experience that feeling?”
The company turns its model home centers into donation drop-off points, where the public can bring clothing, food and other items. This year, donations were distributed to eight different organizations in Ohio and Pittsburgh. And in some cases, the gifts couldn’t have come at a better time.
Take the YES Club in Newark, OH. It’s an after-school program that provides healthy meals and other needed services to local underprivileged teens. Like many non-profit organizations, the YES Club has been hit hard by the economy. So hard, in fact, that YES Club director Vee Hottle was beginning to bring in her own leftovers for the teens. And that’s about the time the Club received a delivery: bags of food and toiletries — as well as a $500 check — from the Newark division of Wayne Homes.
Charity as a contact sport
At Wayne Homes, giving back to the community is an idea that’s woven throughout the company. Employees are given paid time off for community service projects. Suppliers, such as appliance and floor covering vendors, are actively encouraged to get involved. And since Wayne Homes contributes $100 for every home sold between Thanksgiving and the end of the year, even customers get to join the act.
But the company does something else to inspire employees to give back. They make it a competition. Six different teams go head to head, trying to raise the most money. They hold bake sales. They conduct silent auctions. And in this battle for charitable superiority, a dynasty has arisen. “The estimating department always wins,” McClaskey says. “They auction off little projects around the house, like painting, spreading mulch and replacing windows. People eat it up. So the estimators are the reigning champions.”
Homebuilding becomes hope building
Most people around Akron, OH, know about Casey Miller, the Akron teen who one day last year suddenly became paralyzed from the chest down. The community rallied around Casey, raising money to help with medical bills and working to make Casey’s home more wheelchair compatible. The Akron Fire Department built a ramp on the front of the house. And with help from its trade partners, Wayne Homes created a wheelchair-accessible addition to the home and installed a lift that lets Casey go down to a basement family room and therapy room.
“It was wonderful, being able to help out with what we do best,” McClaskey says. “When you give, you begin to understand how important the little things are. Like a good meal. A warm jacket. Or a nice home. It’s not a burden to give these things. It’s a privilege.”
About Wayne Homes
The task of constructing a home from the ground up is made less daunting thanks to Wayne Homes’ four decades of experience, streamlined process and exceptional personal service. They help customers through every step — from home-site prep and financing to choosing from numerous combinations of floorplans, features and finishes. The result is a home of extremely high quality that perfectly suits the homeowner’s needs. Homes range from 1,300 to 3,500 square feet and from the $80s to $200s (plus land cost). Learn more about building a custom, energy-efficient home by dropping by one of the company’s eight model home centers or by visiting WayneHomes. com (http://waynehomes. com/?cid=134).
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