UPS Delivers

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UPS employees stopped by Hephzibah Home in August during their annual UPS Ride for the Kids.

It was not a typical Saturday at Hephzibah Home. With their eyes wide and necks stretched, Hephzibah’s young residents stood carefully on the curb and watched a steady stream of motorcycles zoom up North Boulevard. The friendly riders, who had gathered at a UPS distribution center earlier that morning, waved to the kids. It’s hard to say which group was more excited!

The grand entrance was part of the UPS Ride for the Kids on August 23. Employees from the UPS Franklin Park branch organized the day, which raised more than $1,000 through donations and raffle ticket sales.

One group of UPS volunteers and their families arrived at Hephzibah before the motorcyclists in a brown truck loaded with donated prizes and food. While the motorcycles cooled down, they hosted a cookout for the kids in the backyard, with a DJ who inspired some enthusiastic dancers.

UPS Dispatcher Mary Harris led the set-up team to grill hot dogs and sell raffle tickets. Once the bikes were cool enough to touch, the riders graciously boosted kids onto the cycles for photos. Their smiling faces tell the story: the best partnerships benefit everyone.

Hephzibah relies on building relationships with community-minded companies of all sizes. “It is an excellent way to engage employees in a shared vision,” says Hephzibah Donor Relations Manager Marissa Grott.

Employees from McDonald’s began a program called McScrappers in which they create scrapbook pages for the kids. The Peninsula Chicago Hotel found a vendor willing to help Hephzibah obtain a commercial refrigerator — a huge help in the group home kitchen, where meals are made for 26 children.   

Philips Lighting held a surplus inventory sale for its employees and donated the proceeds to Hephzibah. Avis Budget sponsors outings and provides requested supplies such as backpacks. Other groups have performed repairs on the house, donated carpet and helped plant a garden.

“I work to find a good fit for each company — whether it’s filling a need on our wish list, hosting a fundraiser or organizing a maintenance project at the group home,” Poe says.

The holidays offer many ways to get involved. Corporate partners can shop for gifts, wrap presents, sponsor events or help us provide turkeys to local families. To create a plan for your company, email mgrott@www.hephzibahhome.org.

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