Concord, N.C. Having successfully benefited over 11 philanthropic
organizations in the Charlotte area in 2009, PreGel AMERICA and its employees
kicked off their annual Donate for Denim program this past January with
Charlotte Emergency Housing, a homeless shelter for working families. Based on
Januarys contributions and enthusiastic participation from the previous year,
the Italian specialty dessert ingredient company forecasts even larger donations
for 2010.
PreGels Donate for Denim program allows employees to wear jeans on Fridays in
exchange for charitable contributions to the designated organization of the
month. For the employees its not so much about wearing jeans on Fridays, as it
is about being able to help others.
Its a lot of fun to participate in because its no longer about Casual
Fridays, but instead Feel Good Fridays, said PreGel employee, Lisa Weyhrich.
I know I am helping the community every week.
PreGel plans to continue to donate to charities they partnered with last year
such as Goodwill and The Samaritan House, but some new charities as well.
Charlotte Emergency Housing is one of the new organizations and has already
reaped the benefits of PreGels philanthropy receiving items such as baby care
necessities, clothing, miscellaneous linens, school supplies, toiletries,
hygiene products and cleaning products. PreGel says it tries to involve a wide
variety of different organizations that focus on important issues such as
homelessness, animal care services, and the special needs of children and the
elderly in the surrounding Charlotte areas.
We love being a part of the greater good for our community. The program is so
easy because employees simply have to show up to work on Friday with a few extra
things to help their neighbors, said Human Resource Manager Jennifer Higgins
and administrator of the program.
PreGel AMERICAs Donate for Denim program officially launched at the beginning
of 2009. Notable contributions in the programs inaugural year included the
Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Shelter in which PreGel donated over 30 different
items needed by the shelter to care for the animals waiting to be adopted, and
over 100 cans of food collected for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.
During the month of October, PreGel also supported the acclaimed Child Life
Program at the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital. PreGel shares a zip-code with
the famed NASCAR family and the childrens hospital holds a special place in the
PreGel familys hearts. Donating over 20 new and gently used childrens arts and
crafts supplies, board games and puzzles, PreGel was able to touch the lives of
these special children as well.
PreGel will work throughout 2010 to top their total contributions in 2009, and
President and CEO Marco Casol has every reason to believe they will do it.
When our employees set their minds to accomplish a goal, they do everything
they can to achieve it, said Casol. They are hard workers and knowing that the
end result serves the community only fuels their eagerness to meet the goal.
About PreGel AMERICA
PreGel AMERICA is the U.S. subsidiary of PreGel, a global ingredient company
headquartered in Reggio Emilia, Italy. PreGel develops, manufactures and
distributes natural ingredients, toppings and fillings of the highest quality
from Italy, including flavors, powders and pastes used in gelato, frozen yogurt,
pastry and other specialty desserts. Based in North Carolina since 2002, PreGel
directly sells to restaurants, gelato cafes, coffee shops, frozen yogurt shops,
bakeries, pizzerias, hotels, resorts, grocery stores and universities, as well
as a few distributors in the United States. The company headquarters is in
Concord, N.C., just northeast of Charlotte. For more information, visit
www.pregelamerica.com.
Source:
PreGel AMERICA