Between the Lines: The Spirit of Giving

For those of us who celebrate Christmas, the time eventually comes when we realize it’s more fun to give than receive. I guess that’s all part of growing up. That’s okay, but I wish growing up didn’t have to mean that the hands on the clock start turning a whole lot faster the older you get.

But let’s focus on the spirit of giving, since this is that time of the year.  Nowhere is that more vividly illustrated in the office imaging space than among this past year’s Elite Dealers.  One criteria is how the dealerships and their employees give back to their communities. Turns out they give back in so many different ways.  What better way to illustrate that than to highlight some of the many examples among The Week in Imaging’s 2013 Elite Dealers who demonstrate the spirit of giving all year round.

• Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office, New York, NY, budgets $800,000 a year in donations and during last December’s 2012 Sales Blitz, donated 1 percent of revenue (more than $45,000) to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relieve for New York and New Jersey.
• Blue Technologies, Cleveland, OH, has been involved with Berea Children’s Home and Family Service, recently named Ohio Guidestone, since 1996. Throughout this partnership they have become the lead sponsor in their yearly golf outing donating more than $20,000. Blue Technologies believes that a company involved in the community receives twice as more back than it gives. They give over $100,000 in donations to various organizations, including Browns Foundation, Cavs Youth Fund, BelleFlower, Lake Health Foundation, Gathering Place, Sisters of Charity, Belle Fair JCB, Diversity Center, Southwest General Tiara, Hawkins School, Providence House, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Applewood, WSL Foundation, Alzheimer Foundation, and the Children’s Development Center.
• Employees at Coordinated Business Systems, Burnsville, MN, have consistently raised $10,000+ for the last six years for Leukemia Light The Night Walk. This is done through different fundraisers such as a silent auction, cigar & poker night, casual day, and several different raffles. Plus once a month Coordinated serves lunch at a homeless shelter, serves meals to the elderly and disabled at their homes, and twice a month at Feed My Starving Children. Pro Copy, Tempe, AZ, started the ProCopy Foundation in 2010 with the mission to give back to the youth of its community. They’ve raised more than $60,000 for causes such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Grand Canyon State Games, Southwest Autism Research, and Arizona State University Foundation. The  ProCopy Foundation also donated $5,000 to the 100 Club to support the families of the 19 firefighters who lost their lives in the Yarnell fire earlier this year.
• Since 1981, Marco, St. Cloud, MN, has been a member of the Minnesota Keystone Program, consistently donating at least 5 percent of its annual profits to the communities it serves. The dealership encourages and pays employees to volunteer and expects all members of the leadership team to be actively involved on nonprofit boards. Marco has also been a strong supporter of the United Way since it opened its doors in 1973. In 2013, employees raised nearly $136,000 for the United Way through Marco’s annual campaign.
• Systel Business Equipment, Fayettville, NC, has endowed scholarships and supported student aid and learning programs for local colleges and universities such as Methodist University, Fayetteville Technical Community College, North Carolina State University, and Campbell University and Law School. Each year Systel provides over $250,000 to local organizations and universities through annual sponsorships, scholarships, endowments, and support through donated equipment and community involvement.
• Zoom Imaging Solutions, Roseville, CA, actively participates in the Arden Arcade Rotary Club and Foundation. In March of 2013 Zoom assisted in raising more than $60,000 to benefit both the Arden Arcade Foundation, which supports various charities in the Sacramento area, including the Children’s Receiving Home, and the Sheriff’s Community Impact Program (SCIP) through their annual Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament.

Again, this is only a tiny sampling of the way office imaging dealers give back to their communities in big and small ways. It’s great to be part of that community if only on the reporting side.

Thanks for reading and have a Happy New Year!