2017 COMMUNITY IMPACT APPRECIATION FEATURE From event sponsorships to volunteer efforts and beyond,
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some businesses make community service more than just a priority— but a lifestyle.
For this year’s Community Impact Appreciation awards, we selected 10 businesses from a group of nominations submitted on the Lynchburg Business website. On the following pages, see how each organization is making Central Virginia a better place to live.
BANK OF THE JAMES In what ways does your company contribute to the community? Bank of the James is a community bank and community service is a big part of our existence. In October, we collected food in our branches for the United Way’s annual food drive, and we delivered food to the Daily Bread for their outdoor food pantry. Also this fall, we took supplies to several homeless shelters in Lynchburg. Then in November, we were a corporate sponsor of CASA’s Superhero Run and participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Bank of the James is also involved in the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. Why is community service a priority for your company? It is who we are. As a local bank, we feel the responsibility to give back to our communities we serve through donations, sponsorships and volunteer efforts. By supporting numerous charitable and civic organizations, we are giving back to these organizations so they can carry through with their mission in serving others. It has a “pay it forward” effect. Giving back is part of our commitment to make a difference and is an essential part of being a good corporate neighbor. Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped. Our bank helped the American Red Cross last year (February 2016) when the tornado hit Appomattox. We donated to this organization to help with food for volunteers and to help those in the community who experienced damage. Also, for the past 11 years, Bank of the James has given a cash citizenship award to one senior from each of the 19 Region 2000 high schools. Over 180 students have received this award over the years.
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AT A GLANCE Founded: Opened July 1999 Locations: 13 full-service locations, two loan production offices, an investment insurance division and a mortgage division Employees: 145
2017 COMMUNITY IMPACT APPRECIATION FEATURE
BWX TECHNOLOGIES, INC. In what ways does your company contribute to the community? Each year, BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) commits significant financial support to help make a difference in people’s lives in the Lynchburg area and throughout North America. In addition, our employees embody a genuine spirit of teamwork and philanthropy through donations and volunteer time. The company promotes educational excellence at the primary, secondary and college/university levels through more than 35 outreach, mentoring and scholarship activities. BWXT also assists more than 80 nonprofit organizations with donations and other support. The company focuses its community giving primarily on education, health and human services, economic development, and the arts. Why is community service a priority for your company? Lynchburg and the surrounding communities have been very supportive of our mission for decades, and we feel a responsibility to give something back. The vast majority of our employees are originally from this area, and when they volunteer, they are serving the communities where they grew up and where they are now raising their children. We see many of our donations as long-term investments in the area—BWXT plans to be here for many years to come. Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped. BWXT has been a key supporter of Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) since 1988. In addition to annual fund gifts used primarily for scholarships, BWXT was one of the largest contributors to the college’s successful World Class Workforce Campaign, helping to provide the equipment needed for the college’s new advanced manufacturing center in 2004. In 2007, we were instrumental in CVCC’s development of the machining quality control program of study. That strong relationship continues today.
AT A GLANCE Founded: 1956 in Lynchburg; 1867 in Rhode Island Location: 800 Main St., Lynchburg; 2016 Mt. Athos Rd., Campbell County Employees: 2,500 in the Lynchburg area; 6,000 in North America
CENTER FOR
PEDIATRIC THERAPIES In what ways does your company contribute to the community? Center for Pediatric Therapies (CPT) Lynchburg provides occupational, speech language, and physical therapy services for the pediatric population in outpatient, natural environment, and school-based settings in the Lynchburg area. Most recently, CPT collaborated with Amazement Square to offer an all-inclusive, free event, “Amazing Me,” for families who have children with a variety of special needs. CPT therapists were present at the museum to provide accommodations, suggestions and assistance.
AT A GLANCE Founded: 2001 in Danville Location: 101 Leroy Bowen Dr. Suite A, Lynchburg Employees: 13 in Lynchburg
Why is community service a priority for your company? CPT believes we can have a greater impact on children and families by integrating our services into the community. Our families often share their frustrations with having limited choices for experiences their whole family can enjoy as a unit. These families are limited to select activities that may not necessarily offer the proper supports for a child with special needs. Parents and caregivers also frequently express the desire for opportunities that will connect them to other families of similar circumstances. It is our goal to be that connection, to intertwine our therapeutic services within local events, providing support and opportunities for all. Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped. “Amazing Me” was created with the hope of affording children with special needs the same experiences as their siblings and peers while also helping parents form a local support system. We received this feedback from parents who wanted to remain anonymous: “My son and daughter had a blast at this event. They have never been to Amazement Square before and it was great to have staff available to assist with how to integrate therapy into the exhibits.” “It was a great event. It was nice to know that we would not be made fun of or kicked out of the museum when our son started having a behavioral tantrum.”
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IMAGE MAKER SALON AND WIG STUDIO In what ways does your company contribute to the community? In the beginning of our journey, we volunteered with the American Cancer Society’s “Look Good, Feel Better” program. The goal is to teach women how to deal with the physical changes that may occur during medical treatments. We decided to incorporate these concepts into our daily business practice. Every day, with warmth and compassion, we welcome women who are dealing with a new frightening cancer diagnosis and/or facing impending hair loss due to medical treatments or heredity issues. We offer several no charge services including wig education. We also work with children dealing with Alopecia, which is hair loss. We teach them to enjoy the ability to change their hair and the uniqueness of who they are. Why is community service a priority for your company? This is who we are as a business—helping women retain their identity and confidence in self and know they are beautiful in appearance, with or without hair. Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped. Bailey Harris, a wonderful eight-year-old girl with Alopecia, came into the studio with her parents and grandmother. Following a conversation with her mother on the phone, I had decided the occasion would be treated as a “play dress up” event. During the visit, I assured Bailey she didn’t necessarily need hair to be beautiful. I taught her to enjoy the idea of change and the idea of wearing a wig when she “felt” she wanted hair. I emphasized that wearing a wig did not define who she is and that her beauty resonated wherever she was. We had so much fun with her while also teaching her everything she needed to know about wearing wigs.
AT A GLANCE Founded: 2011 Location: 1033 Claymont St., Lynchburg Employees: 2 co-owners, daughter and mother
INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGY GROUP In what ways does your company contribute to the community? We have contributed to the community and continue to do so through volunteerism, product donations, in-kind donations, continuing education opportunities and charitable contributions.
AT A GLANCE Founded: 2008 Location: 159 Old Dominion Dr., Madison Heights Employees: 21
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Why is community service a priority for your company? We recognize that our community and the people in it are a big part of why we are thriving. That is why we choose to give back, because we want to help our community thrive, too. We have made it a point to provide high-end technology products as well as special, ongoing service relationships with nonprofit organizations in the area because we know it can be difficult for nonprofits to reach their desired audience when they don’t have the necessary tools or funds to get them there. That is where ITG fills the gap for many organizations in the area. Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped. In the words of Patrick Hubbard, founder of Living Bread Ministries: “It’s not just the IT stuff that ITG helps with. Paul personally is vested. He gives of his time and resources, and the company gives of its time and resources to help and further our call. For any organization, it’s important to protect your data, and for a small nonprofit to have our data stolen could be catastrophic as far as our ability to survive. That’s why it’s important for someone like ITG, who knows what they’re doing, to protect and set up networks and make sure all of our information is secure. And people can have confidence that when they’re giving and we’re managing their information, it’s going to be safe and not stolen.”
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Image Maker Salon and Wig Studio Thin & Fine Hair Specialist Salon uses specialized cutting and treatment techniques to enhance and preserve fine and thin hair. Choose from hundreds of highquality wigs and hair pieces, or place a custom order for your specific needs. Working with all ages, women, men, and children. Image Maker is unique in the industry!
Call (434) 385-0347
(434) 660-2259 or (434) 942-2949 1033 Claymont St. Lynchburg, VA 24502
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Other times by appointment
A full service rehabilitation clinic for children ages birth to 21, staffed with experienced professionals in the fields of pediatric occupational, physical, and speech therapies.
101 Leroy Bowen Drive, Suite A, Lynchburg, Virginia, 24502 434.239.6630 | centerforpediatrictherapies.com
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NICE AS NEW CONSIGNMENT In what ways does your company contribute to the community? We provide quality merchandise at low prices in a friendly atmosphere, and we provide a consignment service for people to make money. We also give our unsold merchandise to multiple local charities to help people that are in need. Since we opened 38 years ago, we have given to over 25 to 30 charities. To name just a few: Gleaning for the World, the Lighthouse, Daily Bread, Salvation Army, Tree of Life Ministries, nursing homes and churches. Why is community service a priority for your company? It is the great satisfaction of helping others by being there for them and being able to pay it forward. We have been able to help so many families over the years. Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped. A local nursing home contacted us this year to help with their fashion show. About 10 ladies came to the store and each one was able to find a dress. With no hesitation, Nice as New donated all of the dresses. To see how much fun they had trying on the dresses and how great they looked in them was priceless.
AT A GLANCE Founded: August 1979 Location: 2828 Linkhorne Dr., Lynchburg Number of Employees: 5
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RANDOLPH COLLEGE In what ways does your company contribute to the community? We offer free family programs such as the annual Science Festival and weekly Science and Art Saturdays, as well as a free science teachers’ institute each summer. We host cultural events and speakers from all over the world, professional artist exhibitions, and a variety of theatre and dance performances. Randolph was also recently recognized by the Princeton Review for efforts to help the environment, ranking 16th in the nation among “green” colleges. In addition, we contribute to the workforce through student internships for local businesses and organizations, and many of our graduates often stay and work in the area. Why is community service a priority for your company? Our motto is Vita Abundantior, or “the life more abundant.” We teach our students that one of the most important ways to live an abundant, fulfilling life is to give back and to actively contribute to the communities in which we live.
2017 COMMUNITY IMPACT APPRECIATION FEATURE
LIBERTY DINING BY SODEXO In what ways does your company contribute to the community? Liberty Dining by Sodexo impacts the greater Lynchburg community through job creation, workforce development programs, volunteer efforts, partnerships with nonprofits, and product donation. While Sodexo has a long and extensive history of local involvement, we really started to reshape our culture about four years ago. Since then, we have had the opportunity to work with many wonderful organizations, from Habitat for Humanity, Lynchburg Daily Bread, Miriam’s House, Stop Hunger campaigns and more. Why is community service a priority for your company? We believe we have a social responsibility to pour back into this community. Since starting our partnership with Liberty University over 40 years ago, Lynchburg has yielded so many great opportunities for Sodexo and we want to ensure we are giving back. Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped.
Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped. Most recently, our education students have been working alongside students at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School to build a tiny house as part of the Kids in College program. Funded by a 21st Century Learning Center grant, Kids in College is an after-school program in which Randolph students serve as mentors for middle schoolers while also helping them improve their math skills. This project to build a tiny house has taught the middle schoolers not only how to use basic construction tools, but also how math can be applied in everyday Founded: 1891 life (i.e. Location: 2500 Rivermont making precise Ave., Lynchburg measurements, Employees: About 1000 budgeting, etc.). students, faculty, and staff
AT A GLANCE
One story is about an employee who suffered a serious life-altering injury. After rehab, he re-entered the workforce as a utility worker on our team. Although it is a completely different role than his previous job, he is able to work and contribute to his family. This helps him feel worthwhile and have a sense of purpose. Another is how we support local nonprofits. Every year we host the Liberty Craft Fair, which is a large gathering of creatives, makers, and growers who come together for a one-day market. Last year we hosted this event which supported Daily Bread. We donated all vendor fees, all monetary donations, and all nonperishable food items. This sizable donation accounted for a large sum of their yearly budget.
AT A GLANCE Founded: Began dining services at LU in 1971 Location: Liberty University Employees: 900
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THE WHITE HART CAFÉ In what ways does your company contribute to the community? Last year we gave both financially and in-kind to dozens of local charities throughout the community, but giving of our resources is just the start. We care for our employees, insisting on providing an environment where they are valued and treated with dignity. We believe that our existence is a community contribution, and we work hard to ensure that it is. Every employee knows that we see our organization as a filter into which tired, sometimes upset or grumpy, people come, and we consider it our job to serve them so well, with such grace and kindness, that they leave our locations with a smile. Why is community service a priority for your company? Community service is the best reason to own a business. Employing people the second best. Serving customers is the third best. Money may or may not be in the bank account every month, but the rewards of giving to those in need cannot be taken away. We give because we are stakeholders in our region. Everyone should give according to their ability, and we are able. Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped. There are so many organizations that we serve and love. We give annually to Miriam’s House and CASA of Central Virginia, both of which are doing incredible work to serve children and families in the region. We are involved with the very cool Light Change Tokens project, which offers tokens of no monetary value to hungry individuals, which can be redeemed at our restaurant for food. My goal is to always say “yes” to a request from a local 501(c)(3). We also recently partnered with local bands to host a benefit concert to save the local skate park.
AT A GLANCE Founded: September 2013 (revived under new ownership) Location: 1208 Main St., Lynchburg Employees: About 30
WOOLDRIDGE HEATING, AIR AND ELECTRICAL In what ways does your company contribute to the community? We contribute through monetary donations, volunteering, and donating our products and labor in needed projects. When we were founded 42 years ago, the company was not financially strong enough in the beginning to donate money so Lester Wooldridge would actually do work and repairs for free for people in the community where he saw a need. Now, we give to Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross and Patrick Henry Boys and Girls homes. Why is community service a priority for your company? We are a service business. We do what we do every day to serve people and help them be comfortable in their homes. Community service is just one step further we can take to share our passion for serving and helping people. It’s our way to give back to the people who have blessed our business for many, many years. We are who we are and owe our success to our local community support.
AT A GLANCE Founded: September 1975 Location: 14179 Wards Rd., Lynchburg Employees: 60
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Tell a specific story about a person, business or cause your company helped. Annually, we participate with Habitat for Humanity projects, and the past 15 years we have provided HVAC installations in homes located in the Altavista area. One year that was extra special was the year we helped with a home for a local veteran. The house went up in one day! We have local vendors support us by donating or largely discounting equipment and material. We have a team of employees that donate their labor for the day to install systems, ductwork and do electrical wiring. This is a great organization that truly helps families in need of help to get back on their feet and have a safe home to live in.
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THE EVENT In early November, the Lynchburg Business Community Impact Appreciation businesses were honored at a joint event with our Lynchburg Living Giving Back Awards recipients. Many thanks to our sponsors for making this special evening such a success!
Event Sponsored By:
Do you love your job?
We Want to hear from you! We’re asking employees to nominate their places of work for our annual “Best Places to Work” contest. This competition recognizes and honors companies that deliver a true commitment to their employees by advancing operational ideals and promoting productive environments.
Nominations Open Now thru December 31
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