Focus

Two things are true about successful roofing contractors: They value hard work and are willing to support good causes. And Brittany Beldon, the 15-year-old daughter of Brad Beldon, president of Beldon Roofing Co., San Antonio, knows this.

Brittany's high school volleyball team, the Churchill Chargers, agreed to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation's Dig for the Cure. (The foundation's proceeds go toward supporting breast cancer research and awareness.) The team hosted a fundraising event during its Sept. 18 match, and the players gathered pledges for "digs" recorded during the match.

Before and after the match, Brittany was hard at work raising money. Not only did she approach friends and family, she reached out to the roofing industry hoping she could count on roofing professionals for help. Brad, to provide further incentive, agreed to shave his head if Brittany raised more than $3,000.

Brittany's hunch was correct: She raised a tremendous amount of money (more than $27,400), $10,000 of which came from various people in the roofing industry. Her teammates and coach were floored, and her father is now bald.

"Brittany didn't care how many people she asked or the amount they gave. She wasn't going to stop until the deadline," Brad says. "The word 'no' simply doesn't exist in Brittany's vocabulary."

Brittany says: "Each and every contribution to the Susan G. Komen Foundation surpassed my expectations and gave me the biggest jaw drop by my coaches that I think I have ever witnessed. All the donations reaffirmed my belief that people will give from their hearts despite the economy."

It's not often that a 15-year-old is so enterprising. Not only is Brittany's story inspiring, but it proves the industry can pull together to support a cause.

For more information about the Susan G. Komen Foundation, go to ww5.komen.org.

Ambika Puniani Bailey is editor of Professional Roofing and NRCA's senior director of communications.