Cindy Nelson was no stranger to organizing a golf outing. But this time, the effort was bigger, and it had a single purpose.
By the end of the day, Cleveland-based DeCarlo Paternite & Associates Inc. had raised $18,000 to split between Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and the Ireland Cancer Center.
“It was an exciting thing for the company, because the people who got involved here really had never been involved in anything to that degree as far as being able to generate that many dollars,” says Nelson, DPAI marketing director. “It was really exciting to see the enthusiasm internally, as well as the people throughout the community, our partners and our clients who came on board with us.”
Twenty-five corporate sponsors and 75 participants took part in DPAI’s Aug. 9 charity golf outing at Mayfield Country Club, which Nelson says was a great way for the company to raise money for two causes close to the hearts of its staff members.
“One of our owners lost his wife to cancer, so the Ireland Cancer Center was definitely something that was of personal benefit to him,” explains Nelson. “And as far as the Rainbow Babies and Children aspect, a lot of us have children. We took a consensus throughout the organization and that one hit home.”
The organizations that DPAI supports are very often the ones that have made a difference in the lives of the company’s own workers. Many times, individual employees also make personal commitments to the organizations in conjunction with DPAI’s corporate donations.
The August charity golf outing was only the latest event, however, in DPAI’s community giving efforts. Last June, DPAI sponsored ‘Ribaffaire ’99,” an event that raised $5,000 for multiple sclerosis research. Within the past year, employees also participated in a campaign initiated by Microsoft to collect more than 1,400 teddy bears for the Children’s Medical Center of Akron.
When DPAI was approached by the Make-A-Wish Foundation last May to help a young cancer patient receive his “wish,” the company donated a laptop, computer software and accessories to the boy. Instead of sending holiday gifts to valued clients, DPAI makes contributions in honor of them to local food banks.
Throughout the year, DPAI also contributes to organizations that serve the local community, such as the Alzheimer’s Foundation, the American Heart Association and the Ohio Crime Prevention Association.
Nelson believes DPAI places such a premium on community giving simply because of the value it places on the individual when it comes to business.
“We are a people company ourselves,” she says. “That’s what our product is. We sell the services of our people and the people aspect of the business is really, really important to us. I feel it is really important from a community standpoint to contribute this way.
“There’s a lot of personal benefit to it. A lot of satisfaction.”
How to reach: DeCarlo, Paternite & Associates, Inc, (216) 524-2121
Jim Vickers ([email protected]) is an associate editor at SBN.