At Eaton, robust and healthy communities are seen as a vital component of the company’s culture. Eaton people care deeply about the communities in which they live and work, with employees investing their time, money, and energy in programs that make a difference in the lives of others.
Each year, Eaton recognizes employees who excel in community service and volunteerism by presenting them with the Stover Award, which is named after James R. Stover, Eaton’s chairman and CEO from 1986 to 1991. Stover was known for his leadership and service to the community and that spirit permeates throughout the company.
MISSION RESPONSIBILITIES
Community stewardship is a key part of Eaton’s culture, and the Eaton Vehicle Group is an example of how a business prides itself on its ongoing commitment to bettering its surrounding communities.
Recently, Eaton employees at the Vehicle Group’s Kings Mountain, North Carolina, facility participated in the United Way of Cleveland County’s 16th Annual Golf tournament, raising more than $21,000 of the event’s total earnings of more than $66,000. This year marked the most money ever raised by the tournament, and 20 Eaton vendors also contributed to the event, helping boost Eaton’s total donation by more than 75 percent compared to last year.
Featured Image: Eaton Vehicle Group employees from the Kings Mountain, North Carolina, facility recently participated in the United Way of Cleveland County’s 16th Annual Golf tournament.
Above: Eaton Vehicle Group volunteers from its Southfield, Michigan, campus were recently recognized for their contributions to RTOC.
“I am so thankful and proud of our team for all the support they have given to the United Way over the years,” says Edward Faylo, plant manager, Kings Mountain, Vehicle Group North America. “We are fortunate to have so many great vendors and employees in Kings Mountain that help support our community. This successful event is another example of how we are committed to helping improve the quality of life in our community.”
IMPROVED A GREAT DEAL
Eaton Vehicle Group volunteers from its Southfield, Michigan, campus were recently recognized for their contributions to Rebuilding Together Oakland County (RTOC), a non-profit organization providing free housing repair and community service work in Oakland County, Michigan.
“Eaton does all the things in the community that others probably wouldn’t do for us,” says Gale Frazee, president, RTOC. “This kind of giveback by a corporation as large as Eaton makes a difference to others in this local community. I can’t say enough about the way Eaton models corporate giving to the highest level possible.”
Eaton first partnered with RTOC in 2008. Since then, the company has donated more than $175,000, rehabilitated 10 project sites in the Southfield area, participated in the rehabilitation of a city block in Pontiac, Michigan, and funded a year-round home repair program. Eaton is the first and only RTOC county-wide sponsor and has been since 2011.
Eaton Vehicle Group employees from the Galesburg, Southfield, and Marshall, Michigan, campuses recently renovated a local park with RTOC.
“It’s a way for Eaton to give back to the community. I have worked with this team for a long time and we’re glad we can make this community better,” says Gustavo Cruz, vice president, Sales, Light Vehicle and Engines, Vehicle Group North America. “To see how the program has evolved has been very rewarding.”
THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE
Also this year, Eaton Vehicle Group employees from the Galesburg, Southfield, and Marshall, Michigan, campuses partnered with RTOC as part of the National Day of Caring to renovate a local park in Southfield. More than 80 employees donated 416 labor-hours to improve Bauveric Woods Park.
Eaton volunteers performed a number of tasks at the community park, including:
- Spreading 1,000 cubic yards of mulch in the playground area
- Water-sealed picnic tables
- Designed 13 new signs for trail paths
- Defined and bordered trails
- Cleared the park of litter
- Sanded and painted trash bins
“Giving back to the communities in which we live and work has always been a very important part of Eaton’s culture,” says Cruz. “Eaton has enjoyed a long partnership with both the City of Southfield and RTOC, and together we have successfully identified and rehabilitated numerous sites needing maintenance and refurbishment.”
THE FULLEST POSSIBLE USE
For the fifth consecutive year, Eaton Vehicle Group North America employees at the Galesburg, Michigan, facility raised a bounty of fresh produce for a local charity in their “Garden of Eaton,” which is located on a small plot of land on the campus grounds.
Employees tended the garden, which originally began in 2012 as an Eaton wellness initiative. During the first year, employees split the harvest among themselves, but in 2014 decided to donate the produce to a local charity.
This year, Galesburg volunteers planted a variety of vegetables and herbs, resulting in a 515-lb harvest that was donated to the Senior Services of the Southwest region’s “Meals on Wheels” program. The program provides nutritious meals to older adults, helping them remain independent in their homes.
“We are proud that we are able to help local services that make our community a better place, and that we have employees who donate their time to make this possible,” says Vanda Snyder, aftermarket analyst, Vehicle Group, and “Garden of Eaton” team leader.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Find out more about Eaton’s products, services, and values, visit www.eaton.com.
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MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS: DECEMBER 2016 ISSUE
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