Independent and Corporate Planners Join Forces to Outfit Home for Needy Family
Connections
By Mary Davar
Who:
Wyeth (now part of Pfizer)
BCD Meetings & Incentives
Event:
Operation: Welcome Home
Philadelphia
Aug. 12
It had been a long and difficult road for Michele Wesley, in and out of foster homes, living in one room with her three children at the homes of family and friends.
Wyeth (now part of Pfizer) BCD Meetings & Incentives Operation: Welcome Home Philadelphia Aug. 12
She wondered how long she could go on—until she heard about family nonprofit ACHIEVEability, which works to end poverty by helping single parent, low-income families, achieve self-sufficiency. Wesley applied for the program.
“Now I can see there are people out there who truly do care and want to help.”
Meanwhile, employees from the Wyeth (now a part of Pfizer) meeting planning department and BCD Meetings & Incentives scoured the Philadelphia area for an organization to support as part of their grassroots corporate citizenship initiatives.
ACHIEVEability proved to be just the connection they were looking for. The nonprofit offers support services such as education, job readiness training and housing assistance; in exchange, candidates agree to work a minimum 30 hours per week, accrue at least 15 credits per year toward a post-secondary degree or equivalent and attend regular workshops on issues such as parenting, home maintenance and financial management. (Wesley has her associate’s degree in paralegal studies and will be pursuing her bachelor’s in accounting at Chestnut Hill College in 2010.) For most ACHIEVEability candidates, the program marks a milestone never before achieved and a chance to break the cycle of poverty.
Christine Genovese, senior program manager for BCD, contacted Stephanie Goldstein, vice president of development at ACHIEVEability, who suggested Wyeth and BCD volunteers spend an afternoon painting a house for one of the women accepted into the program. But, when the group learned that homes are rented without essential items, the volunteers immediately began to consider how they could provide household necessities for at least one room. With the generous spirit of continuing to make a difference, the team—led by Amy Doty, director of meeting services for Wyeth—committed to the nonprofit’s Operation: Welcome Home, creating and posting a checklist for every room in the house.
“We wanted to make a difference in one family’s life knowing that if everyone on our team just brought in a few extra things, we could furnish an entire house and help get them on their feet that much faster,” Doty said.
Excitement built daily as an executive from Wyeth’s corporate affairs department heard about the ACHIEVEability collection drive and arranged for someone from senior management to be on site when the items were delivered and set up. A representative from the communications team and the company photographer were subsequently invited to represent Wyeth in seeing the community outreach project completed. The connections were multiplying and gaining more and more momentum in preparation for the big day.
Fast forward one week. Vans are loaded, and Wyeth and BCD representatives set out to meet the family and set up the collected items. The press is there to greet everyone, as the children (ages 6, 8 and 9) rush to help unload “favorites” they have already claimed. One enthusiastically shouts, “This is the best day of my life!”
Indeed, it is a magical day for Wesley and her kids. And while there is very little furniture and minimal furnishings in the home, volunteers add silverware to kitchen drawers, matching sheets and a bedspread to a child’s room and towels in the bathroom. Simple everyday items take on new meaning.
Deborah Dickerson, Philadelphia-based general manager for BCD, offers to mentor Wesley as a result of the experience.
“Since our outreach efforts, I have had the opportunity to talk with Michele and learn more about her and her struggles,” she said. “I was impressed with the steps that she has taken to overcome her adversities. Michele is filled with hope for the future, and with the right guidance and mentorship, I believe she will succeed. The opportunity to participate in this initiative reminded me of how fortunate I was to have parents who provided me with opportunities and guidance, which enabled me to provide a wonderful life for my children.”
But the story doesn’t end there. Doty sees a perfectly good sofa on the curbside of her neighborhood and thinks of Wesley’s empty living room. The next day at work she asks others if they have furniture they no longer use and would they be willing to give it to someone in need?
“Now when I grocery shop, I realize how fortunate I am to be able to get what I need, when I need it. I always pick up a couple of extra things that I can add to my donation pile for ACHIEVEability the next time I visit.”