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PPAI Celebrates 2016
Giving Achievements
PPAI takes its responsibility as a force for good seriously and supports organization-
wide giving programs through its staff-led Community Services Committee. The staff’s
fundraising and volunteer events throughout the year benefit both the local Irving, Texas,
community as well as national organizations. Here’s a snapshot of just some of the
organizations PPAI staff helped in 2016:
•
Irving Cares
– Employees collected
10,680 pounds of food and $1,110 in
cash during the annual four-week food
drive in April and October/November,
bringing PPAI’s total food donation to
more than 42,748 pounds of food since
the program began in 2003. Additionally,
20 staff members volunteered time
at the food pantry, offloading pallets,
stocking shelves and bagging groceries
for Irving Cares clients. During the
year, employees donated travel-size
toiletries and recycled grocery bags,
and a truckload of reusable canvas
bags from the SAGE show, as well.
•
Irving Humane Society
– Employees
formed teams of two and participated in
a lunchtime obstacle course on the PPAI
lawn, raising $1,213 to assist the animal
shelter. A bake sale raised additional
funds and staff members donated
food, towels, toys and food. Three staff
members donated their time to pick up
and deliver goods.
•
Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
–
Employees made 200 colorful paracord
bracelets to donate to patients.
•
Operation Kindness
– Eight staff
members each spent four hours
volunteering at the shelter.
•
Promotional Products Education
Foundation (PPEF)
– A lunchtime
employee bingo game raised $428 for
the PPEF scholarship fund.
and variety is key to getting all your
employees involved. Charitable giving
works best when everyone, from top
to bottom, is passionate about the
program. Charitable giving doesn’t start
and stop with monetary donations.
From in-kind donations to flexible
volunteer time-off policies, it’s about
engagement, being truly present,
participating and getting involved.
What has been the most unexpected
result of your company’s giving
program
? The level of engagement and
generosity from more than 50 percent
of our employees was unexpected but
appreciated beyond words. There’s
a sense of pride and joy when your
team embraces these opportunities,
and seeing everyone come together
is so rewarding. While employee
engagement is important, the most
unexpected outcome is that so many
of our own customers are embracing
the idea of giving back and have asked
to partner with us to support the many
charities we’ve partnered with over
the years. Extending our reach and
creating a momentum around “giving
back” through our partnerships is
unexpected and truly appreciated. As
an owner, an employee and a volunteer
there truly is no better feeling than
giving back to help those in need.
The genuine goodness that your heart
feels during and especially after is
overwhelming. It’s not about what you
do, what you make or even what you
sell. It is truly about human kindness
and giving back.
The Heroes Among Us
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FEATURE
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MAY 2017
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