For Immediate Release
Apollo Celebrates 30 Years with 30 Acts of Charity
It’s no secret that the construction industry has been hit hard by the persistent recession. Many companies have had to significantly cut expenses, lay off employees, and generally tighten up all aspects of operating budgets to stay afloat. While these corporations rein in spending and compete fiercely for new work in a market where the level of trust in corporate America is at an all time low, some are still finding extraordinarily innovative ways to create positive change in their communities.
One such company is Apollo Mechanical Contractors of Kennewick, Washington. In spite of the significant economic downturn, Apollo has consistently leveraged its unique assets to give back. While Apollo recognizes that it’s philanthropy has business value, the company’s motivation is inherently unselfish. Being a positive, impactful force in the community is a commitment that Apollo has incorporated into its very DNA and permeates the entire culture of the company. Both executives and workers in the field regularly and passionately participate in philanthropic activities.
This year, Apollo Mechanical Contractors celebrates its 30th Anniversary as a company. They are celebrating the occasion by participating in a “30 for 30” Philanthropy Campaign that will include one act of charity for every year the company has been in business. Some donations are financial and others are volunteer hours performed by Apollo employees. Their ambitious list of philanthropic acts includes the following: 30 scholarships for college students, 30 volunteers on community projects, 30 sponsorships for youth sports teams, 30 bowlers for Junior Achievement, 30 turkeys for Thanksgiving, 30 toys for Christmas, $30K gifts in kind to a local college, 30 hours cooking Elephant Ears for the Rotary Club, 30 Safety Barbecues for 30 jobsites, 30 boxes of girl scout cookies to troops in Afghanistan, 30 tons of metal recycled, 30 coats for kids, 30 trees planted, and 30 kids trained in first aid.
Many of Apollo’s 30 planned and completed philanthropic activities revolve around safety. It’s not surprising that a company so invested in giving back to the community is also invested in ensuring its employees are safe and healthy. In 2010, Apollo earned an Experience Modification Rate of .29 from the Occupational Safety and Hazard Agency, making them the safest company in Washington State, beating out even non-construction companies. The company has cultivated a culture of safety, communicating to all employees that they are valuable, irreplaceable resources and that getting home safely to their families is the most important objective.
Apollo’s passion for making a difference is contagious. Their penchant for benevolence has begun to directly influence its clients. In the Apollo offices just last week, bags of pet food donated by employees for the Benton Franklin Animal Shelter lined the reception areas. Many clients saw the pet food and returned to the offices the next day with their own donations. Several local media outlets in the Tri-Cities have featured Apollo’s 30 for 30 campaign, including the Tri-City Herald and a local news station.
Employees are voluntarily supporting the campaign with full participation and excitement. Apollo management recently attempted to recruit 30 volunteers to cover 30 shifts cooking elephant ears at an event for the Rotary Club. Over 50 employees signed up. The company’s commitment to philanthropy and community transformation starts at the top. Owner Bruce Ratchford, along with the entire executive team, regularly and actively models participation in community outreach activities such as coaching youth sports.
Recent Happenings:
-
30 first aid kits were donated to area high school graduation parties for raffle gifts
-
Raised $1600 to help 30 kids with Muscular Dystropy go to camp
-
30 Year Anniversary Commemorative Edition of our Newsletter, Under Construction, containing a great article on Apollo's history
-
Mike Ellis, Apollo's Safety Manager gave a presentation to Cascade Natural Gas on “Building a World Class Safety Culture”
-
On Saturday, July 16th, Apollo held the annual Safety BBQ for employees
-
Held a drive that donated 30 bags of pet food to a local animal shelter.
Coming up:
-
September will be a busy month as Apollo will collect coats for needy kids and children’s books for local libraries
-
Apollo's annual yard sale with all proceeds going to charity
In a true spirit of altruism, Apollo plans to continue making a difference in the community long after their 30 for 30 campaign is over.
Contact Information
Dan Briscoe, Vice President
1201 W. Columbia Drive n Kennewick, WA 99336-3459 USA
Tel (509) 586-1104 Fax (509) 582-6590 Email info@apollosm.com
http://www.apollosm.com