Goodwill helps people reach their potential, eliminates barriers to opportunities, provides a sense of unity and belonging, and brings people together to support causes bigger than themselves.
During the past year, roofing professionals extended goodwill to others by sharing talents and skills, volunteering, fundraising and participating in a variety of activities that support and strengthen their communities.
Every summer, Professional Roofing recognizes a few of the individuals and companies that have helped in times of need, demonstrating the compassionate and generous nature of our industry.
Englewood Arts
If art is an application of creative skills typically viewed in visual form, the team at Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal Co., Independence, Mo., created a piece of art on top of a first-of-its-kind community center in Independence.
In February 2021, Englewood Arts, a nonprofit organization assisting the community through art programs and events, began a $2 million capital campaign to renovate a vacant medical building it purchased and convert it into a contemporary community arts center. One of the most significant and needed donations came from Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal located a few blocks away.
Mary McNamara, owner and CEO of Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal, learned about the community arts center project and visited the building. Right away, she noticed a 6-foot hole in the roof caused by vandals who stole air conditioners off the roof.
“We anticipated doing temporary patches, but Mary noticed the entire roof system was in bad shape and felt strongly we could not be successful by constantly patching and worrying about the roof,” says Michael Baxley, director for Englewood Arts. “Mary generously offered to replace the roof system and solicited for materials on our behalf.”
Thanks to McNamara’s efforts, Division 7 Sales Inc., Shawnee Mission, Kan., and Performance Roof Systems™ Inc., A SOPREMA Group Company, Kansas City, Mo., donated all the materials needed for a new roof system valued at $130,000.
The Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal team removed the existing built-up roofing from the three-story, 30,000-square-foot building and replaced damaged metal decks. After making repairs, crew members attached insulation boards followed by a torch-applied DERBIGUM® roof. The team finished the roofing project with new fascia, soffits and a gutter system with downspouts.
Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal not only made the building watertight, but McNamara’s generosity also had a rippling effect. The story of Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal’s goodwill was told to others and used as a template for giving. When painters from a painting company came forward and offered to paint the building, the painters asked Sherwin-Williams® to donate the paint, and Sherwin-Williams agreed.
“The same came true for the 90 new windows donated to our building,” Baxley says. “We would never have received these tremendous donations had it not been for Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal being the first to make a major commitment to our organization.
“The new roof is one of the most important aspects of our building and allows us to be worry-free for many decades to come. It is one of the most tremendous gifts we could receive. Thank you Mary McNamara and the Cornell Roofing and Sheet Metal team.”
Giving Tuesday
Created in 2012, Giving Tuesday is a day that encourages people to give back. The event is held each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, and Americans have raised more than $6.2 billion since 2012.
On Giving Tuesday 2021, Americans worked together to set a record for the special day by donating $2.7 billion—a 9% increase over Giving Tuesday in 2020.
Great Roof Giveaway
For the past nine years, GSM Roofing, Ephrata, Pa., through The Gooding Group Foundation, has been giving the gift of a new roof system to local communities through its annual Great Roof Giveaway.
All Lancaster County 501(c)(3) organizations are eligible to submit an entry to the GSM Roofing Great Roof Giveaway for a chance to win a new roof system or receive roof system repairs and related services. The winners of the 2021 GSM Great Roof Giveaway were announced Sept. 17, 2021, during the Gooding Group Customer Appreciation Golf Outing.
Bethel AME Church, Lancaster, Pa., received $15,000 for roof system repairs for its cultural center. However, when the GSM Roofing team was on-site making repairs, it discovered repairs weren’t enough and the $15,000 gift grew to more than $100,000 for a new roof system.
“Reed Gooding, president of GSM Roofing, has been a blessing in the life of our church,” says Rev. Edward Bailey. “He doesn’t even know what a blessing he’s been and what God is going to return to him because he’s been a blessing to us.”
In addition to the $100,000 roof system donation to Bethel AME Church, GSM Roofing donated $2,500 each to American Legion Post 429, Ephrata; Good Samaritan Services, Ephrata; and Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity, Lancaster.
Purr Partners Feline Rescue
For Purr Partners Feline Rescue, Youngsville, N.C., The Hamlin Companies, Garner, N.C., proved to be an equal blessing. The Hamlin Companies has assisted the nonprofit organization by being a corporate sponsor for fundraising events and providing money to purchase vouchers for low-cost spay and neuter procedures.
It also has provided the funds to trap, spay/neuter, vaccinate, treat and feed more than 30 cats that live in a feral colony near The Hamlin Companies office.
“Katherine Anne Hamlin, vice president of The Hamlin Companies, has been most helpful,” says Lawanna Johnson, founder and president of Purr Partners Feline Rescue. “She and her family have adopted cats that came from The Hamlin Companies property and given them a safe and loving home. Without the support from corporate sponsors like The Hamlin Companies, our mission of preventing unwanted births and saving cats from certain death would be nearly impossible.”
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Making sure children get a good night’s sleep is a mission of employees at Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Frederick, Md. The company recently provided much-needed support to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the only charity that provides handmade beds to children who don’t have beds of their own.
Founded in 2012, Sleep in Heavenly Peace has 200 local chapters and has donated more than 95,000 beds across the U.S. Thanks to donations and a team of dedicated volunteers, beds are built, assembled, delivered and set up with bedspreads, pillows and blankets for children who would otherwise be sleeping on couches and floors.
As a result of a generous donation from Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal, volunteers now can dip the beds in a solution to prevent bed bugs.
“Without the materials, the process of getting beds to children slows down,” says Ernie Giancola, founder of the Hagerstown, Md., local chapter. “With the help of Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal, we are fulfilling our mission of ‘no kid sleeps on the floor in our town’ and have more time to help children.”
Additionally, since 2007, the team at Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal’s Wheeling, W.Va., office has sponsored a four-day amateur golfing event benefiting Easterseals Rehabilitation Center, Wheeling, an organization that provides rehabilitative medical care for children with disabilities, developmental delays and special needs. In 2015, the event turned into an annual Kalkreuth Vendor Invitational event that includes a dinner for vendors and a Kalkreuth Amateur Golf Championship event that hosts more than 300 golfers.
During the past seven years since Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal began hosting the event, the company has raised $200,000 to help children. During 2021, the company presented Easterseals with a check for $58,480.
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Nutley, N.J., auxiliary members annually donate 9 million hours to community service projects, relief efforts and local veterans’ affairs facilities. To help the organization continue serving veterans, the teams at Peck Brothers Roofing LLC, Elmwood Park, N.J., and GAF, Parsippany, N.J., collaborated to provide much-needed roofing assistance at the Nutley VFW Post 493 facility.
In September 2021, Peck Brothers Roofing and GAF provided a new TPO membrane roof system on a canopy roof over the main entrance and made repairs on a roof over the banquet hall. The three-day roofing project was made possible with materials donated by GAF as part of its GAF Community Matters social impact initiative and installation labor provided by Peck Brothers Roofing through its newly launched PB Purpose program dedicated to serving the local community.
“We are so grateful to GAF and Peck Brothers Roofing for their generous collaboration,” stated Maria Hamlin, commander at VFW Post 493, in an article in Nutley Neighbors magazine. “They have helped bring longevity to our aging building, and they have raised the roof in more ways than one.”
Giving trends The average donor age in the U.S. is 65 years old.
The average donation is $813.
The average online donation is $204.
Donations made in October, November and December represent 37% of charitable giving.
Total charitable contributions in 2020 was $471.44 billion.
Following is a breakdown by recipient type:
Sources: The Blackbaud Institute’s 2021 Charitable Giving Report and Giving USA’s 2021 Annual Report on Philanthropy in America
United Way
During 2021, the team at R.H. Marcon Inc., State College, Pa., raised and installed the roof during United Way’s annual Day of Caring. Since 1993, United Way’s annual Day of Caring has been one of the largest annual volunteer events in Centre County, Pa. Each year on the first Thursday in October, Day of Caring volunteers work on improvement projects throughout Centre County for all qualifying nonprofit organizations, community recreational facilities, historical sites, municipal parks and other relevant areas. Projects consist of landscaping, painting, repairs and general upkeep.
During the 2021 event, the team at R.H. Marcon provided the labor to install a new roof system on a Strawberry Fields group home. Strawberry Fields, a member agency of United Way, provides comprehensive services and support for people with developmental delays, intellectual disabilities and mental illness.
“It is with deep appreciation that we acknowledge R.H. Marcon’s contribution of a full roof system replacement on a Strawberry Fields property as part of our 2021 Day of Caring,” says Leanne Lenz, executive director for Centre County United Way. “Your amazing act of generosity is testimony to your commitment to the community and making State College a place to live united.”
Youth Soccer League
The team at Texas Traditions Roofing LLC, Georgetown, believes sports can help unite people and get youth out of their comfort zones while teaching valuable life lessons.
Knowing some families are unable to financially support their children in youth sports, during the past two years, Texas Traditions Roofing has sponsored the Georgetown Parks & Recreation Youth Soccer League. Each year, the company has donated a minimum of 12 scholarships to help youth participate in the league.
In addition to financial support, the Texas Traditions Roofing team attended the opening days to support young soccer players. The team interacted with families in the community, cheered on players and made sure everyone stayed hydrated by providing free water for all.
“Through its generosity, Texas Traditions Roofing has provided scholarships for local youth who otherwise would not be able to participate in our Youth Soccer League,” says Riggin Anderson, recreation program coordinator for Georgetown Parks & Recreation. “We are grateful for our continued partnership, and we also enjoyed having the Texas Traditions Roofing team out on opening day to meet participants and families.”
Did you know? If your company is doing great work to help an organization, you can nominate the project for a CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award. The winning project will receive $5,000 payable to the charity. For more information, contact NRCA Manager of Online Communications Alyssa DeSantis at adesantis@nrca.net.
Sumner Center
Thanks to the generosity of the team at TLC Pro Roofing LLC, Gallatin, Tenn., community members are receiving much-needed assistance when life gets challenging.
For many years, the congregation at Northfield Church in Gallatin had a vision of providing a community center and raised $1.3 million to remodel a building on its property. After the TLC Pro Roofing team provided a much-needed new TPO roof system, the Sumner Center at NorthField became a reality.
“The work TLC Pro Roofing provided free of charge saved us about $25,000,” says Mackenzie Mailander, director for the Sumner Center at Northfield. “It kept our construction costs down and enabled us to get the project done under budget and on time. They worked with the general contractor and church leaders to go above and beyond to provide additional items we requested and still did not charge us a dime. They tied the roofing work into a sign wall on an existing building in a way that is watertight and beautiful.
“The work also included a metal roof system at the entrance, gutter work, metal coping work and metal trim work. In addition, they contributed funds toward the construction of the center, and volunteers from the company work in the center on a regular basis, helping with food distribution and special needs services. Our thanks go out to TLC Pro Roofing for its contribution to the center and service to our community.”
Because of the assistance extended by the team at TLC Pro Roofing, the Sumner Center opened Nov. 6, 2021, and provides those in need in the community with free dental care services, a food and clothing pantry, job interview training, accounting services, housing assistance, free legal assistance and counsel, and more. Future plans include the addition of a 32-unit multifamily, transitional and safe housing community next to Sumner Center.
The ALS® Association Florida Chapter
For many years, the team at Venture Construction Group of Florida Inc., Boca Raton, has been an avid supporter of goodwill initiatives that support research and advancement of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) treatments to ultimately find a cure.
According to ALS.org, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is an always fatal neurodegenerative disease in which a person’s brain loses connection with the muscles. People with ALS lose their ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe. More than 5,000 people are diagnosed with ALS every year. The average life expectancy for people living with the incurable disease is two to five years.
“The fight to defeat ALS is near and dear to my heart,” says Stephen Shanton, CEO and president of Venture Construction Group of Florida. “I lost my father to this disease. He was a fighter and fierce advocate for remaining positive throughout his journey with ALS. He always said that attitude determines altitude! We’re dedicated to supporting ALS research and finding a cure.”
Venture Construction Group of Florida was the Premier 2021 Statewide Partner for The ALS Association Florida Chapter in Tampa. Established in 1987, the organization provides free services and assistance to persons diagnosed with ALS and their families and caregivers.
Venture Construction Group of Florida also sponsored numerous ALS fundraising events throughout the year in Florida, including ALS Ring of Honor Golf Classic in St. Augustine; Broward Walk to Defeat ALS in Davie; Central Florida Walk to Defeat ALS in Orlando; Florida Ride to Defeat ALS in Kissimmee; Gainesville Walk to Defeat ALS; Greater Tampa Bay Walk to Defeat ALS; Hope & Health Symposium (virtual); Jacksonville CEO Soak; Jacksonville Walk to Defeat ALS; Miami Walk to Defeat ALS; Orlando CEO Soak; Palm Beach Walk to Defeat ALS; Sarasota Walk to Defeat ALS; South Florida CEO Soak at Dania Beach; Southwest Walk to Defeat ALS; Tallahassee Walk to Defeat ALS; and Tampa Bay CEO Soak.
“Participation in these events has an enormous impact on people living with ALS and their families,” says Cal Brooks, vice president of The ALS Association Florida Chapter. “We’re grateful for the support of Stephen Shanton and the team at Venture Construction Group of Florida.”
“The programs and services The ALS Association Florida Chapter provides wouldn’t be possible without philanthropic leaders like Venture Construction Group of Florida,” adds Ray Carson, president of The ALS Association Florida Chapter. “They make it possible for us to make a difference in the lives of hundreds of families in Florida every single day.”
A will to do good
From roof system giveaways to fundraising events to adopting animals in need, roofing professionals are goodwill ambassadors who always find ways to support and advocate for their communities and neighbors in need. Goodwill is contagious. Once an individual or organization contributes to a cause, others take notice and join in to help.
What charitable project is your company working on? Motivate others by sending your story to professionalroofing@professionalroofing.net.
For articles related to this topic, see:
“In it together,” July/August 2021 issue
“Heroes among us,” August 2020 issue
“The heart of roofing,” August 2019 issue
CHRYSTINE ELLE HANUS is Professional Roofing’s associate editor and an NRCA director of communications.
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