Tough Times Don’t Dampen Community Spirit

Kids In Distress Run Walk
On Saturday, my husband, our dog and I took steps for a good cause, walking in the Kids In Distress (client) Taking Steps 5K Run Walk. The Run/Walk kicked off National Child Abuse Prevention Month, bringing attention to the tiniest victims in our community.

What really caught my attention during the event was the number of people – a 20 percent higher number than last year – who participated and those sponsors and volunteers who gave up their Saturday morning to support the kids and families of Kids In Distress. It occurred to me that even in this volatile economic climate, there are people out there who, no matter what, will lend their support to a good cause just because it is the right thing to do.

Colonial Bank had more teams this year than they have had in the past and they walked en masse smiling and laughing the entire time donning bright blue shirts made just for the occasion. What a great way to build camaraderie within the ranks and with the bad rap the banking industry is getting, how great is it to see team Colonial Bank bucking the trend and pouring their hearts and sneakers into fundraising for Kids In Distress.

Advanced Roofing and Advanced Green Technologies had families and dogs participating too. And Manuel Mair from One To One Fitness was out there again this year to warm up the runners and walkers. The list goes on and on.

And the best part of all was that everyone seemed to be having a terrific time.

What we’ve found with many of our clients is that, despite the worries over the economy, they are giving back and in a big way. Sunbeam Properties and Development is participating in the United Way of Broward County’s Project Lifeline which collects food for local food banks and assists homeless families in finding stable housing. Sunbeam organized a food drive at the Miramar Park of Commerce (client), asking tenants and their employees to contribute non-perishable goods. They made it easy by placing a collection box in each office’s lobby.

Typically you’ll find companies are very generous around the Christmas holidays and forget about charity during the rest to the year. So kudos to companies like Colonial Bank, Advanced Roofing, Advanced Green Technologies and Sunbeam that are coming to the rescue at a time when non-profits need it most.

There is tremendous value internally and externally in community outreach. Together if we all stay involved, we’ll all make our communities better places to live and work. And it couldn’t come at a better time.

Maria Pierson, CEO of Pierson Grant Public Relations