Created Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GREENFIELD – Two local nonprofit organizations are heading into the holiday season with a better bottom line.
During the inaugural Customer Appreciation Day at Leo’s Market and Eatery, associates from Pride Investment Partners, Leo’s parent company, presented checks of $750 each to the Hope House and The Landing Place through the Pride’s Purpose community enrichment fund.
When a new employee is hired at Leo’s Market and Eatery, 2212 W. Main St., one of the first things they do is decide whether to make a charitable donation of a portion of each paycheck into the Leo’s Community Enrichment Fund, or “Pride’s Purpose.”
Leo’s Market and Eatery matches 100% of each of those donations, meaning for every dollar donated by employees, Leo’s also contributes a dollar to the fund.
It’s gratifying to be able to make a donation to two nonprofits only four months after opening the new concept market and eatery, said Pride Investment Partners board member Tami White.
“I was excited so many employees chose to make contributions,” White said.
Twice a year, Leo’s Market and Eatery employees will be asked to help decide how to put that money back into the community. Employees were asked to submit four nonprofit organizations to be put into the running for the funds from a list of nearly 20 entities serving Hancock County and the surrounding area.
The Hope House (hancockhopehouse.org) is Hancock County’s sole homeless shelter, which also serves Shelby, Henry, and Rush counties. The shelter aims to help individuals and families become self-sufficient by providing not only shelter but job training and financial counseling.
It’s encouraging to see Leo’s employees choosing to support the mission of the Hope House, said executive director Andrea Mallory.
“It’s neat that they left choosing the nonprofit up to the employees,” she said. “It sounds like the employees are philanthropic and connected to the community.”
The donation of just over $750 will go toward a $65,000 plumbing project recently completed at the shelter, Mallory said.
The Landing Place (thelandingplacehc.com) provides a place for teens age 13-19 to meet and learn real-life strategies and principles to break the cycle of addiction, dysfunction and destructive behaviors while learning healthy patterns of living and maintaining lifelong sobriety.
“It’s one of the most honoring awards we’ve had, because it comes from the people,” said Linda Ostewig, Landing Place director. “It feels good that the community sees us as valuable and important.”
Leo’s Market and Eatery encourages employees to donate part of each paycheck in an effort to follow its core value of community mindedness. Leo’s and its parent company, Pride Investment Partners, also pursues sponsorships, company fundraisers, volunteering and making donations to local nonprofit organizations.
The Hancock County Food Pantry was the runner-up for the donations, said Stephanie White-Longworth, Pride IP chairwoman and president. After Thanksgiving, a donation tree will be set up at Leo’s Market and Eatery to benefit the food pantry, she said.
For more information, please contact: Rorye Hatcher| Marketing and Communications Associate | [email protected] | 317-468-2515 x. 228