MAKING A DIFFERENCE DAN WHISENHUNT
Beautiful for the long term. Carpet treated with R2X® keeps its stylish good looks... like so many other things that endure.
Ed Zito, a volunteer with American Kidney Services, points out the tealcolored collection bins that the nonprofit uses to collect donated items from around the metro area. This bin is located in the 6300 block of Roswell Road in Sandy Springs.
Buckhead man networks for kidney nonprofit BY DAN WHISENHUNT
danwhisenhunt@reporternewspapers.net
At first glance, Ed Zito looks more could take a life, it gave me a different like a member of a corporate boardroom perspective,” Zito said. “I couldn’t take than a volunteer activist. things for granted anymore.” The Buckhead resident wears a People who have worked with Zito pressed suit and keeps his salt-and-pepsay he has been able to put his business per hair neatly styled. He’s from New experience to good use. Jersey and speaks in a polite, no-nonGreg Grisham, logistics coordinator sense tone. for American Kidney Services, said Zito Zito’s an entrepreneur, but these days has been an effective spokesman in the he spends much of his time volunteercommunity for the nonprofit. ing on behalf of the “We’re a memnonprofit American ber of four different Do you know an organization or Kidney Services. He chambers of comindividual making a difference treats it as though it merce,” Grisham in our community? Email were a multimillionsaid. “It’s impossible editor@reporternewspapers.net dollar account, makto attend everything, ing appearances at loand with me trying to cal chamber meetings do that, I was getting and in local media. spread too thin.” He can rattle off the statistics and asZito stepped in and quickly learned surances. American Kidney Services colall he needed to know about the nonlects 120,000 pounds of donated clothes profit, Grisham said. per week. In 2012, Consumers Digest “He’s a people person, a nice asnamed its parent organization, Ameriset to have,” Grisham said. “He’s very can Kidney Fund, as one of the counknowledgeable about what we do. He’s try’s top charities. had some great ideas as far as launching Zito said he was referred to AKS in commercials. He brought a lot of differ2010 because of his ability to network ent knowledge to the table.” and his business contacts. He’s been Tom Mahaffey, president and execpresident of three different firms and utive director of the Sandy Springs/Pecurrently works as a sales consultant. rimeter Chamber of Commerce, said “When I checked it out, I was very he enjoys working with Zito in his role impressed,” he said. as an ambassador for American Kidney Locals will recognize the teal-colored Services. “He seems to be very dedicated collection bins scattered throughout and very loyal to his project,” Mahaffey the metro area. American Kidney Sersaid. vices will pick up donated items from Zito said he continues to think of the bins and local homes. The nonprofways to innovate on behalf of the cause. it then sells the items to Value Village He said one problem facing American thrift stores, taking the proceeds and Kidney Services is its dwindling list of sending them to the American Kidney phone numbers. Many households no Fund. American Kidney Fund uses the longer have a landline telephone, and money to help defray the expenses of it’s become more challenging to contact people who have kidney disease. people about donating items. Zito said he became interested in the He said his primary mission these charity in part because of a family illdays is education, helping people learn ness. His wife was diagnosed with canmore about how the nonprofit helps cer. Watching her go through the pain others. of treatments reminded him of the toll “If people have a little more knowlan illness can take on a family. edge, more people will get involved,” “Being familiar with a disease that Zito said.
Trust the unmatched value of R2X®, Shaw’s patented combined stain and soil resistance treatment that provides unequaled protection against soiling and liquid spills.
Visit us in-store or online today to see our full line of carpet that repels liquid! Carpet | Area Rugs | Tile & Stone | Hardwood | Laminate | Resilient | shawfloors.com
Lifetime Installation Warranty • All Products 12 Months No Interest
6223 Roswell • 404-255-2431 Kitchen &Road Bath Design
www.ReporterNewspapers.net |
OCT. 18 – OCT. 31, 2013 | 19