When a small group of team members from Lippert Components began a Pink Out event in 2017, they had hopes it would grow. But even they couldn’t have foreseen what happened in 2019.
This story originally appeared in Goshen News.
As a company, LCI supports and encourages employees to give back to their communities. The 2017 fundraising efforts were donated to Goshen Center for Cancer Care because of employee Jackie Finnigan’s personal interactions with the center.
Along with her other colleagues, this LCI team inspired their co-workers, families, friends and the corporation to join in supporting patients with cancer, their families and their healthcare providers.
In 2018, LCI’s efforts were also donated to Goshen Center for Cancer Care. In 2019, the three-person LCI team of Jackie Finnigan, Wendy Isaacs and Jessica Otto raised the bar, setting a goal of $10,000 to be raised in six weeks of fundraising activities. They started off October by delivering 31 teddy bears to Goshen Center for Cancer Care, requesting one be given each day to a patient who either encouraged others or needed extra encouragement. Throughout the month, they raised money through a softball tournament, selling T-shirts, having men dress up in tutus and other fun activities.
On Nov. 5, when LCI colleagues arrived at the cancer center to present their check, they were able to present $11,295.
But that wasn’t all. Lippert’s Director of Corporate & Community Impact Michilah Grimes brought out a matching check from Lippert.
“This is the definition of what we strive for – team members getting involved in the community and creating impact,” said Grimes. “And we just can’t thank you enough for the work you do.”
Dr. Ebenezer Kio, medical oncologist, was there to receive the check on behalf of the cancer center.
“You didn’t have to do this. And that’s the best part,” said Kio. “You didn’t have to think of others … but you did. And that’s an encouragement to keep doing what we do. There are a lot of patients hurting from this disease. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It’s a reflection of what we strive to be as an institution, to be all caring, all serving and going about it in a humble way. You’ve definitely done that. Lippert, thank you so much. You’ve made the world around us a little lighter.”
