By Heather Ripley ‘Tis the season to be charitable. The holiday season often brings out our country’s most benevolent feelings, but it’s also a great time of year to publicize your company’s charitable donations. Many news outlets tend to focus on what local businesses are doing for the community as an example of the Christmas Read more
philanthropy
By Heather Ripley
‘Tis the season to be charitable.
The holiday season often brings out our country’s most benevolent feelings, but it’s also a great time of year to publicize your company’s charitable donations. Many news outlets tend to focus on what local businesses are doing for the community as an example of the Christmas spirit or as part of a year-in-review story.
As a plumbing contractor, you are looking for ways to stand out from your competition, and one way to do that is to publicize your company’s volunteer spirit.
Studies also show that younger generations take a company’s charitable giving into account when making purchasing decisions, and all generations look favorably at successful companies that give back to their community.
Here are three reasons why sharing information about your company’s altruistic programs can help you stand out from the crowd and heighten your reputation.
1. Attract Customers and Retain Talent
As a public relations professional, I speak to many business owners who feel like it’s self-serving to promote their own philanthropic efforts, but our agency highly recommends it, and here’s why: recent studies show that consumers want to know how businesses are supporting good causes. According to a YouGov poll, nearly half of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that gives to a charity, while only 5% say they are less inclined to do so.
Given those odds, touting your efforts on your social media platforms, through press releases, and on your company’s blog will attract more customers who want to support businesses that care about the issues that are important to them.
In addition to consumer interest, most employees—65%—also prefer to work for companies that value social and environmental causes. Retention experts say that employees are happier when they work for a company that shares their personal values.
Collecting donations and offering volunteer opportunities boosts your employees’ morale and helps them connect with your company and its causes on a deeper level.
2. Boost Your Reputation
As a home service company, it’s imperative that you build trust in your community. Because you work with your customers in their most intimate settings, it’s important they have faith in your work and in your judgment.
By publicizing your philanthropic efforts, potential customers can see that you care. And, if your team also volunteers for activities to help the charities you’ve chosen to support, your company and its employees become more visible in the community.
This type of public relations (PR) associates your brand name with a cause and creates a positive image in the minds of consumers when they see your company name. A great example of this kind of PR is the Dawn Saves Wildlife campaign. As a result of news articles and an intense advertising campaign, people now associate the dish soap with the protection of wildlife after oil and chemical spills, and many consumers prefer to purchase that soap over others because they support the wildlife campaign.
3. Differentiate Your Company
If you’ve ever Googled your industry to see how many competitors you have in your local market, you are aware that you are probably one of several plumbing companies in your service area.
Most likely, their marketing teams are also producing door hangers, designing cool truck wraps, and are monitoring the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on your website to attract customers. That’s why you need to do something to differentiate your company from your competition, and that “something” involves public relations.
If you have an effective PR partner, they can help you develop stories, social media and blog posts, and press releases about your company’s good deeds and will work to garner media interest in these efforts.
This not only gets you noticed by your local media, it also improves your standing on Google’s search results—the more times your company’s name appears in links outside of your website, the higher you’ll be listed in those results.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t be afraid to showcase your philanthropic endeavors. But you need to do it tastefully. Building a solid PR campaign or working with a professional PR team can help you differentiate your company and celebrate your efforts while avoiding the pitfalls of sounding insincere.
Heather Ripley is founder and CEO of Ripley PR, an elite, global public relations agency specializing in the franchising, skilled trades and B2B tech industries. Ripley PR has been listed by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Franchise PR Agency for seven consecutive years and was recently named as one of Newsweek’s America’s Best Public Relations Agencies for 2024. Heather Ripley was recently named as a 2024 PRNews Top Women honoree in the business entrepreneur category, and she was recently named as ACHR NEWS’ Top Women in HVAC. She is also the author of “NEXT LEVEL NOW: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for your Home Service Business,” which is now available on all audiobook platforms. For additional information, visit www.ripleypr.com.
Leading manufacturer partners with charitable organizations in Pennsylvania and Michigan this Thanksgiving, committing $25,000 in donations Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, is providing much needed support for three charitable organizations this Thanksgiving season, including Jaws Youth Playbook, Mel Trotter Ministries and Philabundance. The company’s Read more
Leading manufacturer partners with charitable organizations in Pennsylvania and Michigan this Thanksgiving, committing $25,000 in donations
Ambler, Pa. — Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks, is providing much needed support for three charitable organizations this Thanksgiving season, including Jaws Youth Playbook, Mel Trotter Ministries and Philabundance. The company’s charitable contributions include both monetary support and employees volunteering their time.
“At Bradford White, we manufacture water heating products that provide families with access to essential hot water for their health, safety and comfort,” said Rebecca Owens, senior communications manager at Bradford White Corporation. “That said, we recognize that too many families and individuals have even greater concerns this holiday season, like having enough to eat. Through our support, our hope is that we lessen the worry over food for our communities and honor the true meaning of Thanksgiving.”
Leading manufacturer Bradford White Corporation sponsors Ron Jaworski’s (pictured, right) Jaws Youth Playbook Turkey Drive along with other charities in Pennsylvania and Michigan to support the fight against hunger this Thanksgiving.
Once again, the company is partnering with former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski and his foundation Jaws Youth Playbook. Their $5,000 donation supports a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive where full meals will be distributed to families in need across Philadelphia.
Bradford White is also excited to sponsor this year’s Camp Out for Hunger, and provide a $10,000 donation to Philabundance, the beneficiary of the event. Each year, local Philadelphia radio hosts Preston & Steve “camp out” at the Wells Fargo Center complex for a week, broadcasting live and encouraging donations of food or funds to Philabundance.
Plus, this year employees at Bradford White’s headquarters in Ambler, PA, will be hosting a food drive and donating the collected items to Camp Out for Hunger in support of Philabundance, whose mission is to drive hunger from communities today and to end hunger for good.
Bradford White’s contribution to Mel Trotter Ministries in Middleville, MI, includes both time and treasure for the Thanksgiving Community Meal at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, MI. Their $10,000 donation allows many unhoused individuals and families to eat a full meal around a community table on Thanksgiving. In addition, 25 Middleville employees and their families plan to volunteer at the event.
“We love being a part of the communities where we live and work and believe that no one in them should have to go hungry,” Owens said. “We’re so thankful that organizations like these exist, and being able to partner with them and brighten Thanksgiving for our neighbors in need is a meaningful way to kick off the holiday season.”
For more information about Bradford White Corporation, visit https://www.bradfordwhitecorporation.com.
Columbus, Ohio — Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, a leading heating, cooling and plumbing company serving greater Columbus, is proud to announce it is providing a complimentary Carrier home heating and cooling system to an outstanding local educator. Since 2022, Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing has provided a free heating and cooling system to an Read more
Columbus, Ohio — Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, a leading heating, cooling and plumbing company serving greater Columbus, is proud to announce it is providing a complimentary Carrier home heating and cooling system to an outstanding local educator. Since 2022, Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing has provided a free heating and cooling system to an educator within its service area.
This year, a free Carrier home heating and cooling system is being given to Reid Parrett, an intervention specialist at Franklin Heights High School. Parrett has a history of helping students both during and after-hours to ensure every student has what they need to succeed. In addition to teaching within her school, Parrett volunteers at her church’s nursery.
“Our teachers invest in local youth every day. Today, we are so proud to invest in one of them,” said Mike Roszkowski, President of Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. “Supporting a local educator each year is something we are incredibly proud of here at Buckeye. We are thrilled to celebrate Ms. Parrett and the contributions she makes in the classroom.”
Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing’s teacher home comfort system giveaway is part of its MAX Gives initiative that focuses on charitable contributions to the communities in which the company serves. Other initiatives have included HVAC giveaways to families in need, water heater giveaways to first responders and community volunteers, monetary contributions to local charities, scholarships to deserving high school seniors, and donations to local families in need during the holiday season.
Jaworski’s Foundation Jaws Youth Playbook Donates Back to School Supplies to PAL Students Philadelphia, PA (August 6, 2024) – Former Eagles Quarterback, Ron Jaworski and his foundation, Jaws Youth Playbook (JYP) are teaming up with Bradford White Water Heaters, to host a “Back to School Pep Rally” for the children of Philadelphia Police Athletic League Read more
Jaworski’s Foundation Jaws Youth Playbook Donates Back to School Supplies to PAL Students
Philadelphia, PA (August 6, 2024) – Former Eagles Quarterback, Ron Jaworski and his foundation, Jaws Youth Playbook (JYP) are teaming up with Bradford White Water Heaters, to host a “Back to School Pep Rally” for the children of Philadelphia Police Athletic League in Philadelphia that will prepare them for the start of the school year. Together, Ron Jaworski (better known as “Jaws”) and our community partners will provide new Book Bags, AT&T laptops, Shoes, Socks, School Supplies, Books and much more.
Location Time
Southwest Pal August 13, 2024
5900 Elmwood Road. 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Philadelphia, PA 19143 MEDIA TIME: 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
“I am excited my foundation is partnering up with Bradford White Water Heaters, to host our annual “Back to School Event” for Philadelphia Police Athletic League – We all know the financial burden that comes with the start of a new school year. September can be a hard month for so many families in our area, especially for our underserved communities. This event will kick-start the school year for so many families. “We will be providing backpacks, supplies, new shoes from Soles4Souls, socks and so much more”, said Ron Jaworski.
“Bradford White Water Heaters is proud to partner with Ron Jaworski and Jaws Youth Playbook for the Back-to-School Pep Rally to benefit the Philadelphia Police Athletic League. This event is very meaningful to us, demonstrating our core value of community and making a positive impact in the lives of children and families where we live and work. The back-to-school drive is critical to providing Philadelphia-area students with essential supplies for the start of a successful school year,” stated Rebecca Owens, Senior Communications Manager, Bradford White Corporation.
A special thank you to our top sponsors: Bradford White Water Heaters, AT&T, Scott Payne Custom Pools, Soles4Souls, Chemglass Life Sciences, Pepco Manufacturing, Columbia Bank, Independence Blue Cross, DiNicola Family Foundation, Target, Balashine Properties, GF Hotels & Resorts, and Stopain.
To learn more about this event, please visit https://jawsyouthplaybook.org/back-to-school-pep-rally
In partnership with Pennsylvania’s Energy Coordinating Agency, company donates eight water heaters to families in need during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Ambler, Pa. — Eight low-income Philadelphia families are receiving new energy efficient water heaters, thanks to a generous donation from Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading American manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks Read more
In partnership with Pennsylvania’s Energy Coordinating Agency, company donates eight water heaters to families in need during Random Acts of Kindness Week.
Ambler, Pa. — Eight low-income Philadelphia families are receiving new energy efficient water heaters, thanks to a generous donation from Bradford White Corporation, an industry-leading American manufacturer of water heaters, boilers and storage tanks.
The donation, which comes during Random Acts of Kindness Week, stems from Bradford White’s signature charitable giving initiative, Industry Forward®. Eight 40-gallon water heaters are being provided to very deserving families who have contacted Philadelphia’s Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) Heater Hotline. ECA is an Industry Forward® partner that has a strong history with Bradford White.
Rich-Tomkins, a manufacturer’s representative for the company, helped coordinate the product delivery and ECA’s trained staff, which helped identify families most in need, will be installing the water heaters.
“At Bradford White, giving back to our communities and providing help to those in need, is part of our mission and core values as a company,” said Rebecca Owens, senior manager of communications for Bradford White. “By providing water heaters to several families in need during Random Acts of Kindness Week we hope to inspire others to show kindness and give back as well so we work together to make a positive impact on people’s lives. We are truly grateful to partner with ECA and provide essential hot water to families who have been without for far too long.”
ECA’s Heater Hotline team receives numerous calls each week from low-income families who have no hot water because water heater replacement is not covered under other low-income programs. Such calls often come from senior citizen homeowners or families who resort to the dangerous practice of heating water on a range for bathing and household cleaning.
The Philadelphia Emergency Water Heater Fund, created by ECA in 2022, has already used its allotted funding for the year and Bradford White stepped up to assist when it heard of the need.
“We are deeply appreciative of the continued partnership with Bradford White and their generosity through their innovative Industry Forward® program,” said Steve Luxton, ECA chief executive officer. “There are so many families in need of hot water and Bradford White’s continued support to lend a hand and give back to families in need is so important. They are a true partner to Philadelphia families, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet.”
Bradford White has partnered with ECA on several recent projects, including a $50,000 Industry Forward® grant to help ECA launch a pilot internship program for young people and emerging workers from Philadelphia’s disadvantaged communities to receive training on heat pump water heater installation and maintenance.