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Zak Fleming Fleming Construction Des Moines, Iowa flemingconstructionllc.com After a heart attack took his b r o t h e r, Z a k Fleming, owner, set out to make their talks about starting a fund for the hockey community a reality. Money wasn't available for them to play competitively when they were kids, so neither played in leagues until they were adults and could pay for their own equipment. "Years ago, my brother and I were sitting around trying to figure out a way that we could help young hockey players play and nobody really had a pro- gram to offer player assistance," he explains. "Since my brother was playing hockey and was well known in the hockey com- munity, people wanted to put together money for a memori- al. My brother was a successful entrepreneur, so we didn't need the cash for the memorial. We ended up using the money to cre- ate the Gabe Fleming Memorial Hockey Scholarship fund." Applications go out in the fall as teams get ready for hockey season. Coaches, officials and league board members are encouraged to spread the word that financial assistance is avail- able to parents so their kids can play hockey. Parents are asked to fill out an application to prove financial need, and their kids are asked to include a brief essay response. "Part of receiving their scholarship is that the kids come out and help promote the fund," Fleming explains. "They come out to one of our events and throw T-shirts out to the fans, so we don't ask a lot of them but we do want the kids to show they're committed to the program." The scholarship fund hosts three fundraising events per year. An annual golf outing brings people together for fun, prizes and to raise money for kids. A silent auction the week of Thanksgiving features donations from local businesses and items from private collectors of hock- ey paraphernalia. Professional sports figures and teams have also become involved, donating signed jerseys, sticks, helmets, gloves and more. The largest event is the annual three-on- three men's league tournament. Ten teams participated in the 2013 tournament, and sponsor- ship from approximately 15 local businesses meant all the team registration fees went directly toward funding the kids. "The coolest thing about doing this is that the kids send in thank-you notes and their hockey cards. I just love that!" Fleming says. "It just really makes the whole thing worthwhile to see how happy they are. We're not curing cancer here; we're just helping kids have fun." Greg Banig LeafFilter North Hudson, Ohio leaffilter.com Although LeafFilter has locations nationwide, the company focuses its philanthropy work near its corporate headquarters near Akron, Ohio. Greg Banig, digital director, shares that many employees participate in their own charities, but the company supports four groups through various means. Employees in the company's corporate call center spearhead a collection effort for the Good Neighbors program. Collection bins are set up at the office around Thanksgiving for donations of new or gently used hats, gloves and scarves. Employees annually contribute to a small, internal fundraiser for the Akron Children's Hospital. Recipes were collected for the Haven of Rest Ministries, a service organization that provides meals, shelter and clothing to those in need. The group compiled recipes into a cookbook that was then sold to raise funds. "We probably had at least 25 percent staff i n v o l v e m e n t s u b m i t t i n g recipes," Banig says. "We submitted content, and most of the people that submitted a recipe ended up buying a cookbook, too." Due to the company owner's connection to the school, the company also supports the University of Akron football team by sponsoring an annu- al golf tournament with the team's coach, Terry Bowden. "The owner of the company is a former quarterback for the University of Akron, and he met his wife there when she was a cheerleader," Banig explains. "We support the football program as a way for the owner to support college athletics and give back to where he started." Kickoff luncheons and other events are attended by many employees. The LeafFilter office strives to create a culture of community service by generating buzz around the building. Common areas are prime places for fliers and promotional information on community service events. Office camaraderie also drums up involvement, Banig says, as people will occasionally seek participants throughout the office. "We do a lot of things, but we try to fly under the radar," he says. "We don't do things looking for name recognition or to get our logo plastered somewhere. It's just, especially when you get into the holiday season, we're usually pretty grateful about where we finished as a company, and it's nice to try to recognize and help other people in need." QR Donations come from professional sports figures and teams for a silent auction to benefit the Gabe Fleming Memorial Hockey Scholarship. LeafFilter employees, with football coach Terry Bowden, participate in the golf tournament to support the University of Akron football program. ForResidentialPros.com QR July 2014 39 QUR_38-39_ComServ714.indd 39 6/30/14 2:03 PM