Exercising for a good cause was a common theme for Associated Builders and Contractors (
ABC) members during the summer.
ABC of Iowa Chapter President and CEO Greg Spenner and 2009 ABC National Chairman Jerry Gorski, president of
Gorski Engineering Inc., Collegeville, Pa., took on the Des Moines Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. The duo cycled about 500 miles in the July heat to raise funds for the
Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships for dependents and spouses of military service members who died or became disabled as a result of military service.
During the weeklong bike ride, six ABC members across the state opened up their homes to Spenner and Gorski.
“We decided this would be a great opportunity not only to visit with ABC members in the communities the route passes through, but also to raise funds for the Folds of Honor Foundation,” Spenner says.
At the conclusion of the race, Spenner and Gorski helped raise $17,000 in donations. They also plan to follow up with other potential donors.
“Jerry and I rolled into Davenport at 11:30 a.m. on a Saturday with a little more than 500 miles of pedaling behind us,” Spenner says. “We were able to promote ABC and the Folds of Honor Foundation throughout the seven-day ride. We forged stronger relationships for the chapter, ABC National and our members.”
In the spirit of working out for a good cause,
Nova Group Inc., Napa, Calif., came up with a fun and creative way to get its employees in shape for summer while helping some worthy charities. The inaugural NovaThon, held May 4–11, encompassed a relay race in which participants sought out donations from fellow employees, suppliers, subcontractors, and family and friends on a per-mile basis. Nova employees chose the charity to which their earnings would be directed, with Nova Group matching all funds.
Nineteen employees participated in the relay, completing 398.5 miles during the week. Participants came into work early, stayed late and even used their lunch breaks to complete laps.
The event raised a total of $28,358. Funds were distributed to a variety of charities, including Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, The Boys and Girls Club, Engineers Without Borders, and several animal shelters and rescue centers.
“For me it was a perfect blending of some of Nova’s core values—specifically a desire for continuous improvement for individuals and exhibiting leadership within our local communities and in our industry by investing both time and money to further the advancement of social and industry causes,” says Walter Birdsall, chief financial officer of Nova Group. “It was an opportunity for me to take a step toward improving my health while benefitting a local cause that I believe in.”
Employees already are anticipating next year’s event. “Nova has done a tremendous job supporting the local community and charities in the past and I would like that to continue in subsequent NovaThons,” says Alvin Li, assistant project manager.