At OGS Industries, we believe that true success extends beyond the shop floor. As a leading manufacturer of custom metal products in Ohio, we take immense pride in the quality and precision of our work. But we’re also dedicated to making a positive impact through our philanthropic efforts.
That’s why every year, OGS Industries chooses a local charity to contribute to. In years past, we have helped raise funds for local homeless shelters, food banks, shelters for battered women, and many others.
This year, we chose Grace House Akron.
Grace House Akron
Grace House Akron is a local “comfort care home where no one dies alone.” Their mission is to provide a caring environment for those who require hospice but who are without a caregiver. They’re an organization that recognizes the unfortunate reality that there are members of our community who, at the end of their lives, find themselves with nowhere to go and no one to care for them.
At OGS, we firmly believe that everyone deserves to spend the final part of their lives surrounded by care, compassion, and dignity. And, more importantly, we believe that no one should be alone.
To help support the mission of Grace House Akron, we had the distinct privilege of welcoming Amanda Novelli, Director of Development and Communications at Grace House, at our most recent Seniority Ward Luncheon where she was able to speak to our employees at the OGS Progressive location. She helped us all better understand what it takes to keep Grace House Akron running — the facility costs about $1M each year to operate — and that donations are vital to providing their residents with the care and attention they deserve.
Fundraising for Grace House Akron
With a firm belief in the importance of Grace House Akron’s work, we set out to make our fundraiser engaging and enjoyable.
Bader, Baseball, and Brats
Our first fundraising event was called Bader, Baseball, and Brats. We encouraged our employees to make a donation and in turn they could enter their name into a drawing to win an afternoon away from work. The afternoon was complete with lunch, tickets to an Akron Rubberducks baseball game, and the company of our very own Tom Bader, Co-Chairman of OGS Industries!
Winners of the Bader, Baseball, and Brats Day with Co-Chairman Tom Bader
The lucky winners of this drawing were:
- Donna Buck – Plant 3 Office Manager
- Carol Sweat – Plant 3 Packaging Supervisor
- Emily Harrsion – Plant 1 Customer Service Administrator
- and Dot Wheeler – Plant 3 Packer
Employee Appreciation Night at the Akron Rubberducks Game
The second fundraiser we held involved the collection of donations at our Employee Appreciation Night. Our employees and their significant others enjoyed a beautiful night with their coworkers over a buffet style picnic dinner at Canal Park. Afterward, a fireworks display rounded out the night.
Employee Appreciation Night
Over the course of the evening, we held a 50/50 drawing for Grace House Akron. The lucky winner for this drawing was:
- Jack Lenhart – Master Scheduler and Planner
Gift Basket Raffle for Grace House Akron
The final fundraiser we held for Grace House Akron was a gift basket raffle. Our generous departments donated 10 amazing baskets that we raffled off during our 4th of July Party/Seniority Award Luncheon.
Raffle Gift Baskets
Raffle Gift Baskets
Every year, we hold this luncheon to recognize our employees who have hit a five-year milestone with OGS. This year, we enjoyed delicious food catered by City Barbeque and celebrated the contributions of:
- Mark Soyk – 40 years seniority
- Julie Desrochers – 15 years seniority
- Andy Smith – 5 years seniority
- Joshua Lamont – 5 years seniority
- and Dave Francesconi – 5 years seniority
The following baskets were raffled off during our luncheon and 100% of the funds were donated directly to Grace House Akron:
Raffle Gift Baskets
- State of Ohio Sampler donated by the Sales Team | Winner: Heather Paulocsak
- We All Scream For Ice Cream donated by our owners and their spouses, Tom/Annette John/Karen Bader | Winner: Shon Hoover
- Exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park donated by our Plant 3 Production Team | Winner: Tom Bader
- Game Night donated by our Plant 2 Employees | Winner: Kristen Richmond
- Summer Grillin’ donated by Customer Service, Estimating, IT, and Compliance team | Winner: Don Connerton
- Lotto Fever donated by Plant 3 Shipping Dept, Drivers, and Plant 3 Office Manager | Winner: Jake Kolasky
- Italian Dinner Night donated by Human Resources, AP, AR and Shipping Coordinator | Winner: Don Donnerton
- A Day at the Beach donated by the Packaging Department and Gov’t Sales – Winner: Dylan Czetli
- OGS Day Off donated by our executive team Don Connerton, Jack Lenhart, Brain Washko, and Kevin Bader | Winner: Kevin Kolm
- Life if Better by the Campfire donated by Plant 1 Production Office | Winner: Mark Soyk
The Results
With the generous donations taken in from all 3 fundraising events, we were able to raise $1,850 for Grace House Akron!
We had so much fun organizing and holding these events. We’d like to extend our deepest thanks to all of our generous employees and everyone else who donated — we could not have done it without you!
And we look forward to our next series of events that will help support another local charity.
