Successful businesses have both the resources and the influence to be very impactful to
their communities. In both charitable contributions or volunteer efforts, businesses can
reap far-reaching benefits by giving back. According to Giving USA, giving by corporations
is estimated to have increased by 3.5 percent (2.3 percent adjusted for inflation) in
2016, totaling $18.55 billion. The powder coating industry contributes in various ways. The
Powder Coating Institute (PCI) itself participates with its scholarship program.
To compile Powder Coated Tough’s first-ever Giving Back edition, we reached out to our
members to see how they give back to their own communities. Below is a compilation
of the responses received (listed alphabetically by company) for the many different and
heart-warming philanthropic ways the powder coating industry has been giving back.
ALL-COLOR POWDER COATING
All-Color loves to improve parts of the community by
offering its custom coating services. When Mark Mortensen
noticed that the local fire department bell was getting worn
down and rusted over, he contacted the fire department to
offer a fix. The department sent over a team of their strongest
to transport the bell for coating. The bell was refinished and
can now be seen proudly displayed outside of the Oregon,
Wis., Fire Department.
All-Color also is a proud supporter of The Salvation Army
of Dane County. In working with The Salvation Army, they
expressed a need to refurbish their red kettle stands. Once
the Salvation Army had them sandblasted to remove the
previous layers of paint, All-Color refinished them with a coat
of red powder. Stephen Heck, the development director of the
organization, said, “[All Color’s] generous donation of powder
coating our 87 red kettle stands has not only improved the
look of our stands, but will extend the amount of time we
will be able to use them.” Dane County now has plenty of
like-new kettle stands.
AMERICAN POWDER COATING INC
Businesses are an important part of the St. Charles
community in Illinois. American Powder Coating Inc. is one
of those businesses, and they recently donated $3,000 to the
city’s Neighbors in Need utility bill assistance program. This
is the third year that American Powder Coating has made a
charitable contribution to the program.
ARKEMA INC
Arkema’s flagship program for
giving back to the community is its
Science Teachers Program. The goal
of the program is to bring Arkema
scientists and local teachers together
to spark an interest in science
among elementary school students.
The company’s plant in North
Kansas City, Mo., where Reafree®
powder resins are manufactured,
recently hosted a hands-on science
program for 3rd grade teachers
from Briarcliff Elementary School
to spend a week working at
Arkema Inc. and collaborating with
scientists, engineers, and safety
personnel to learn innovative ways
to teach basic science concepts.
Arkema employees at the North
Kansas City facility also participate
in local charitable programs. The plant is a collection site for
the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots program, as well as the local
Harvesters Food Bank program.
AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS
Axalta participates in many philanthropic endeavors.
Several Axalta-sponsored initiatives foster education with a
special focus on the fields of science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM). The company is particularly proud
of its support for schools and initiatives around the world
that promote STEM and STEM-related career paths, including
those at Axalta.
College is an opportunity
for students to put their passion
for engineering, innovation
and technology into practice.
Axalta’s collegiate racing
program originated in the U.S.
and has expanded to other parts
of the globe. Selected universities
with student teams can
be recognized on professionally
driven cars on the NASCAR
circuit. The company supports
other student engineering teams
that build their own race cars for
intramural competitive racing.
Student teams in Europe develop
solar-powered cars. Axalta
provides financial support and
offers professional support and
paint for the cars.
Several Axalta-sponsored
initiatives foster education
with a special focus
on the fields of science,
technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM),
including Axalta’s collegiate
racing program and
support for the Serviam
Girls School.
In India, Axalta supports the
Akshaya Patra Foundation, which
fights hunger and malnutrition
and develops educational
programs for over 1.4 million children from 10,845 schools
across 10 states in India. It is the largest non-profit midday
meal program in the world. Axalta’s support helps provide
freshly cooked meals to more than 550 children in schools
neighboring their facilities in Savli, Gujarat State.
Pardada Pardadi Education Society (PPES) has been
improving the lives of women in rural India through its
mission of empowering women to minimize poverty in the
region. PPES provides free education to girls and job opportunities
for women. Axalta supports PPES through its program
near Axalta’s operations center in Savli, Gujarat State.
In greater Philadelphia, Axalta has helped enrich the
student experience outside the classroom with STEM-related
initiatives for the advancement of young girls and women.
The SWE (Society for Women Engineers), and the Serviam
Girls School in Delaware, are just a few of the organizations
that Axalta has supported to continue the development of
strong female leaders.
Axalta also supports The Franklin Institute, one of the
preeminent centers for science education, and its annual
Philadelphia Science Festival, which showcases sciencerelated
programming, including the science behind Axalta’s
colors and coatings.
Axalta funds new and replacement equipment for the
Science Leadership Academy, which provides high school
students from across Philadelphia with an enriched exposure
to STEM disciplines to prepare for college and careers.
In collaboration with the Philadelphia Eagles, Axalta
enhances mobility for children with disabilities by building
motorized cars. The project is run by GoBabyGo!, a global
organization that uses the building process as a participant
team-building exercise.
In Detroit, Axalta developed and sponsors the EyesOn
Design awards during the annual Detroit International Auto
Show. This fundraising initiative supports the visual research
program at Henry Ford Health System’s Detroit Institute of
Ophthalmology.
BULK CHEMICALS INC. (BCI)
BCI Surface Technologies proudly supports the scholarship
program of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Lehigh Valley Section on
an annual basis.
BCI’s support of SWE
means a great deal to
the SWE Lehigh Valley
Section and to the students
who benefit from their
scholarship program.
BCI is pleased to support
young women who seek a
vocation in engineering.
The scholarship
recipients were presented
their awards at SWE’s
Scholarship Banquet in
May 2017. In addition to
the scholarship awards, the
supporting companies of the SWE-LV Scholarship Program
were also honored and presented with a Certificate of
Appreciation.
COL-MET ENGINEERED FINISHING SOLUTIONS
Col-Met hosted its second annual Ride for a Cause, Car
Show and Fun Run on September 23, 2017. More than 100
people attended the event in support of Helping Hands
of Rockwall,which is the main social service provider for
Rockwall County residents. The event, which took place at
Col-Met’s facility in Rockwall, Texas, raised several thousand
dollars through ticket sales, donations and silent auction item
sales, making it the most successful fundraising event for
Col-Met thus far.
In addition to the motorcycle ride, car show, fun run and
silent auction, there were activities such as a dunking booth
(with Col-Met’s leadership team), snow cone truck, face
painting, food, music and more.
“The purpose of Ride for a Cause is to give back to the
community by raising funds for Helping Hands of Rockwall,
which serves Rockwall residents by alleviating financial crisis
and providing a medical home to the underserved. This year,
we were able to double the dollars raised and look forward to
continuing this trend in years to come,” says Jennifer Egan,
Col-Met’s marketing manager.
CUSTOM FABRICATING & SUPPLIES
Custom Fabricating & Supplies gives back to the
community through various charitable donations throughout
the year. Fisher House Wisconsin, a home away from home
for veterans’ and military families who need temporary
housing while their loved one receives care at the Clement
J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, The Children’s Heart
Foundation, USAA and the Alzheimer’s Association, were
CFS’s major donations in 2017.
ECHO ENGINEERING & PRODUCTION SUPPLIES
Echo loves Indianapolis and its surrounding communities.
It’s a large contributing factor of who they are as an organization.
It’s where they live, work and choose to raise their
families. That’s why Echo is committed to contributing 1%
of its total annual profits to local organizations that provide
parallel community values and missions. Echo is focused on
providing support to those in the community through giving
time, sharing talents and monetary gifts.
In 2017, Echo partnered with nine different organizations
that provide basic necessities to those in need—such as food,
shelter, healthcare, education and life skills. In December
alone, Echo was able to provide 200 children with Christmas
gifts through the Bartrum Foundation
Supporting children is an
important measure in the effort
of giving back because they
represent the future. Other
children-focused charities that
Echo contributes to include
BackPack Attack, a charity
focused on providing the
essential tools for a classroom,
and its local Riley’s Children
Hospital.
Echo also focuses on donating resources to the men and
women in their community through organizations like Dress
for Success, which provides professional attire and support
to women looking to achieve economic independence, and
the Movember Foundation, which supports men’s health.
Other charities Echo is involved with include the Red Cross
and local food drives.
For Echo, charity is more than donating; charity is about
the smile on a child’s face, the warm hugs from families
involved, seeing accomplishment in the eyes of those when
learning a new trade and the comforting feeling of positive
change in their community. Echo’s ultimate goal is to create
a service-minded culture that focuses on giving back in order
to positively affect families for generations. As a corporation
they view it as their responsibility to impact as many lives as
possible in the surrounding
communities, and they say
they have big plans for 2018,
so stay tuned!
EPSI
The week after Thanksgiving
2017, EPSI partnered
with the Salvation Army in
their annual “Angel Tree”
program, a gift drive that
puts new clothes and toys
under the tree for 1 million
children who would normally
go without presents. EPSI
employees adopted 75
“angels” in an effort to
expand a Christmas tradition that makes the season brighter
for both the gift giver and receiver. EPSI employees were
excited to partake in this remarkable tradition and quickly
claimed every ornament with a child’s name and their
Christmas wish. In December, the lobby Christmas tree
became the hub for the brand new toys and apparel for the
“angels.”
The overwhelming response for this drive has brought a
sense of charity and giving into the EPSI office. The spirit of
giving is not limited to just EPSI’s Franksville headquarters.
Staff all across the country and abroad have joined in. EPSI
is proud of the sense of community that this seasonal project
has instilled, and they hope to continue partaking in this
partnership in 2018.
EPSI also has initiated a new “Paid Service” program
that allows their employees to lend a helping hand to their
community. This year alone, the United States has been
struck by several tragedies. There has been an extreme
outpouring of citizens taking time from their jobs to go
and help the helpless during these times. EPSI wants to be
an employer that encourages its members to serve. This
program will allow their employees to receive additional
paid days off to go volunteer in the community. EPSI is
committed to shaping the future of not only its employees,
but also the global community.
HENKEL
In Henkel’s Madison Heights, Mich., facility, the company
participates in “Operation Sleigh Bells.” Henkel employees
at the North American Automotive headquarters in Madison
Heights volunteer to participate in the program to adopt
local families through partnership with the Madison
Heights Goodfellows. This is the ninth year for Henkel
in the program, where employees are put on a team and
assigned a family wish list for the children. Employees
then donate their personal funds to shop for the family. For
each family adopted by employees, Henkel will match by
adopting another family and covering the costs to fulfill their
wish list. In addition, Henkel gives employees a couple of
hours of company time to shop for the families, provides
a Henkel Consumer gift basket, and a $100 gift card to go
toward the purchase of the
families’ holiday meals for
both employee and Henkelsponsored
families. At a
Henkel-hosted wrap party, all
the employee teams gather
and wrap the gifts (Henkel
provides the wrapping
supplies), and then that
same day, the gifts are taken
to the Madison Heights
Fire Department, where the
families will go to pick them
up. In 2017, Henkel adopted
six families, which combined
have a total of 14 kids
ranging from 7 months to 11
years old whose holidays will
be brighter due to the generous donations of Henkel and
its employees.
At Henkel’s North American Headquarters in Rocky Hill,
Conn., and Consumer Goods Headquarters in Stamford,
Conn., the company has given back with hurricane relief
to the American Red Cross, Americares, and Habitat for
Humanity (international Henkel involvement); to the
American Cancer Society relay for life (Rocky Hill); to the
Connecticut Food Bank (Stamford); to the NBC Today Show
Toy Drive (all Henkel); to the Inspirica Toy Drive (Stamford);
to the Special Olympics (Rocky Hill);
and is a K9 sponsor for the Rocky Hill
Police Department K9 Unit.
This just a sampling of the charitable
activities Henkel undertakes throughout
North America. The company works
hard to be good neighbors and partners
in the communities where they live and
work.
HUBBARD-HALL
For 169 years, Hubbard-Hall has
been solving manufacturing’s toughest
problems and has also been instrumental
in aiding the local community. Having
a culture in which the employees give
back to the community where they work
and live is important to the Kellogg
family. Each year the company participates
in the United Way Annual Giving
campaign, and for the last two years
has been among the Top 5 Campaign
Contributors for Greater Waterbury
(Conn.). In addition to monetary
donations, Hubbard-Hall employees
give their time to the United Way’s Day
of Caring—on this day a handful of
employees went to Girls, Inc., to help
with maintenance projects. In December
2016, Hubbard-Hall won the United
Way of Greater Waterbury’s Spirit of
Excellence Award.
Hubbard-Hall is also very involved
in the local schools. At the beginning
of the school year, backpacks are filled
and donated to a local pre-school and
the relationship with those children
continues through the year as members
of the staff go monthly to read books
that correspond to their curriculum.
Employees volunteered to be judges
for the science fair at the Children’s
Community School in Waterbury and
then collected money to supply the
class with microscopes to encourage
their curiosity in STEM-related studies.
Hubbard-Hall is also a leader in “You Be
the Chemist,” an interactive academic
contest that encourages students in
grades 5-8 to explore chemistry concepts
and their real-world applications.
This year, the company participated
in Adopt-a-Family, which received a
huge outpouring of support and warmed
their hearts as they knew they were
making Christmas extra special for a
local family in need with three children.
Other ways in which Hubbard-Hall
gives back to the community include
collections for food at Thanksgiving, a
Salvation Army toy drive at Christmas,
and a coat drive in the winter months.
During the recent natural disasters that
struck our nation, the company collected
money and donated it to families affected
by the chemical plant explosion in Texas.
In 2018, Hubbard-Hall will continue
the programs they already have set in
place and look to expand their reach to
those affected by chronic illness.
GEORGE KOCH SONS, LLC
George Koch Sons, LLC, a subsidiary
of Koch Enterprises, Inc. (KEI), has
been operating in the Evansville,
Ind., community since 1873. For
more than 135 years, the company
has provided jobs, investment, and
community support. The Koch
Foundation was established by KEI
to provide a consistent method of
studying community needs and
returning some of the profits Koch has
earned to the communities where its
companies are located. The projects
that KEI supports are selected based
on long-term value to the community,
team member involvement and support
of the projects, and knowledge of
and working relationships with the
people involved. Recent community
outreach projects include the United
Way of Southwestern Indiana and the
Heart of Michigan United Way annual
“Day of Caring” events and the Koch
Foundation special matching gift
program for the American Red Cross
to help Hurricane Harvey victims.
Through January 2018, Koch team
members are volunteering their time
to construct a Habitat for Humanity
home for a family in Evansville. For
more information about the Koch
Foundation, visit kochenterprises.com/foundation
NORDSON CORPORATION
The Nordson Corporation
Foundation gives grants totalling $1.2
million to deserving organizations
in Northeastern Ohio, guided by
recommendations from employees on
the Community Affairs Committee
(CAC). Employees contribute more
than 1,800 hours with 31 different
organizations through Time ’n Talent,
in addition to direct leadership support.
And more than $200,000 was raised
through the “A Time to Give Campaign.”
Eric Nord, co-founder of Nordson
Corporation once stated: “Nordson
strives to be a vital, self-renewing
worldwide organization which, within
the framework of ethical behavior and
enlightened citizenship, grows and
produces wealth for our customers,
employees, shareholders and
communities.”
The company continues to fulfill
this aspiration in many different
ways, in particular giving back to the
communities where they operate. Each
year 5 percent of Nordson Corporation’s
U.S. earnings are contributed to the
Nordson Corporation Foundation.
In 2017, based on recommendations
by the committee, Nordson supported
82 organizations that were focused on
education, human welfare and the arts.
Examples include:
- Effective Leadership Academy
(preparing students for success at
school and work)
- El Centro de Servicios (social,
educational, community services
for the underserved)
- Save Our Children (after-school
programs for at risk children)
- PACE Foundation (youth
employment training and college
preparation)
- LifeAct (youth suicide prevention)
Through its Time ’n Talent program,
211 individual employees in Amherst
and Westlake, Ohio, completed
over 1,800 hours of service for 31 different organizations,
including:
- Friendship Animal Protective League—Participating in
Woof Walk Wednesdays walking dogs and taking care of
other shelter animals.
- Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage—Reading essays for
the Stop the Hate contest, written by students on ending
intolerance and creating a more inclusive community.
- RePlay for Kids—Adapting toys for children with
disabilities.
- Second Harvest—Sorting and packing food and toiletry
donations made to the food bank.
Additionally, Nordson Corporation, in partnership with
the Powder Coating Institute (PCI), recently awarded a $5,000
Nordson BUILDS/PCI Scholarship to college student Benjamin
Whipker, who attends the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Whipker is studying electrical mechanical engineering
technology.
The Nordson BUILDS/PCI Scholarship is a merit-based
scholarship, administered by PCI. The scholarship is intended
to put awareness back on the importance of American
manufacturing, with the goal of introducing young minds
to the world of powder coatings. Students must be seeking
degrees in engineering or business to qualify and demonstrate
an interest in powder coatings.
Specific criteria required include comprehensiveness of
college/university program; specific studies and projects
related to powder coatings; uniqueness of applicant’s qualifications,
goals and aspirations; and a letter of recommendation.
“We want students to be cognizant of the powder coating
industry and to realize there are great careers to be had in
the U.S. manufacturing sector,” explains Dan Thompson,
director of sales, Nordson Corporation. “Ben is ambitious and
deserving, and represents the future of continued manufacturing
growth in the U.S. We were excited to select him as the
Nordson BUILDS/PCI Scholarship award winner.” Whipker
received the award during a ceremony at Nordson’s Amherst
campus on August 31, 2017.
PARKER IONICS
Parker Ionics has chosen to
work with Ilitch Charities, an
organization that is run by the
Ilitch family and Parker’s friend,
Chris Ilitch. Ilitch Charities is
a non-profit organization that
invests in the community’s
future by supporting innovative,
collaborative and measurable
programs in the areas of
community development,
human services, education
and recreation through
contributions from the Ilitch
companies, their colleagues and
the generosity of others. Parker’s
specific area of giving is directed
toward their children’s charities. Parker supports Ilitch
Charities through contributions and participation in their
fundraising events. Chris Ilitch and Parker Ionics President
John Cole are longtime friends and as such know first-hand
the way the charity benefits local families and especially kids.
Parker Ionics also gives back to its favorite industry by holding
regular training courses in house for powder coaters in the
Metro Detroit region. These free training courses provide
struggling and local startup powder coaters with much needed
training for their painters without cost to them.
PNEU-MECH SYSTEMS MFG. LLC
Pneu-Mech Systems is dedicated to training qualified
individuals by offering internship programs. As part of this
focus, Pneu-Mech Systems looks for opportunities to educate
students in high school, technical school or college about
the many career opportunities available within the finishing
industry through its internship program.
Patrick McNeely was a great candidate for this in 2017 and
Pneu-Mech is pleased to have him as part of its organization.
He is skilled in AutoCad, fabricating and pipefitting and hopes
to gain knowledge in finishing to help him obtain employment
within the industry, long term. He is currently attending
Mitchell Community College in Statesville, N.C., studying
mechanical engineering.
POWDER COATING INSTITUTE (PCI)
Each year, the PCI Scholarship subcommittee reviews
a group of applicants and makes recommendations to the
board of directors on the dispersion of scholarship funds. The
program includes the PCI general scholarship and corporate
member-sponsored scholarships. Recipients are chosen based
on their areas of study, which must be in a technology area
useful for a career in the powder coating industry. While
there are a few additional requirements, special consideration
is given to applicants who demonstrate an interest
or previous experience in powder coatings. When possible,
award recipients are invited to accept their award during a PCI
event so that they can experience a broader perspective of the
industry and get to know folks personally
“It is a such a pleasure to get to meet and visit with these
young folks. We encourage them to stay in touch with us as
they pursue their goals,” says Trena Benson, PCI executive
director. “We’ve already seen meaningful contributions to our
industry from previous scholarship recipients.”
PREMIER POWDER COATING
JR Holbrook reached out to Premier Powder Coating and
Custom Fabrication out of Rexburg, Idaho, to design, laser cut,
fabricate and powder coat a set of benches to help bring back
the wonder of Christmas magic. Holbrook’s new children’s
book, Gingerbread Jimmi, shares about the magic of wishing
upon the Polar Star, and these benches are in tribute to that.
Premier says the completely customized benches were a fun
project to work on, and with the durable powder coating are
expected to endure the wintery weather for many years to come. According to the rules set forth
by the author, here is the proper way to
make a wish:
1. Sit on the bench and take a deep
breath.
2. Make your wish and release it to the
Polar Star.
3. Don’t concern yourself with how it
will be granted, just trust that Santa, his
Elves, Gingerbread Jimmi, and the Polar
Star will know the best way to fulfill
your wish.
Premier Powder Coating and Custom
Fabrication regularly take on custom
requests and projects, and specialize in
site furniture like these benches.
THERMA-TRON-X (TTX)
TTX is dedicated to giving back to
the community that it has been a part of
since 1969.Through generous donations
to local and national organizations
(United Way, YMCA, Independence
Fund, Door County Schools, 4-H,
Humane Society, and many more), TTX
is committed to making a difference
in and around its community. With
partnerships ranging from the Southern
Door High School Formula Race Car to
STEM programs across the county, TTX
promotes educational opportunities
to ensure a future workforce that is
qualified, job ready, and healthy. TTX
is proud to work with many non-profit
organizations and groups to build a
strong community.
TROY CHEMICAL
Troy Chemical has been actively
involved giving back to the community
since its inception in 1971.They give as
a corporation to the United Way, Boy
Scouts, Troy Volunteer Fire Department,
Cataqua Theater production at its local
historical society, Berkshire Schools,
Burton Chamber of Commerce Easter
Egg Hunt, Burton Fire Department 4th
of July fireworks display, and they were
one of the founding members of the
Geauga Growth Partnership, a local
business organization. Through the
Geauga Growth Partnership, they have
a summer paid intern program that
provided internship opportunities for 35
high school juniors and seniors with 26
companies in 2017.
In addition to Lee Imhof, president,
being a founding member of the Geauga
Growth Partnership and the creator of
the internship program, they also donate
to multiple local groups and participate
in a park cleanup, organized by the
Geauga Parks District.
When You Give, You Get
With a charitable mindset and being a
part of the “greater good,” businesses can
boost both their reputations and their
cultures, creating positive PR and better
employee morale that invariably follow.
Prudent businesses can see how these
efforts can affect long-term profitability.
Setting these kinds of goals for your
business are sure to be beneficial in so
many ways. These multi-faceted benefits
make it easy to see why giving back to
the community should be a major goal
for all businesses.
The above article highlights just a few
of the many businesses in the powder
coating industry who have witnessed
the positive impacts of giving back to
the community. Get your business to
start giving back and see what positive
impacts you can make.