Safelite AutoGlass will donate $300,000 this year to Afrika Tikkun, a charitable organization based in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, that develops new generations of productive citizens in South African communities devastated by AIDS and HIV. Employees helped raise a large part of the money, about $225,000, during the 5th Annual Safelite Challenge. An additional $75,000 from the Safelite AutoGlass Foundation will be donated.
Over the last five years, Safelite has donated more than $1.4 million to this charitable organization for which Nelson Mandela was a Chief Patron, according to officials.
Established in 1994, Afrika Tikkun was created to save and transform lives that have been impacted by extreme poverty, aids and post-Apartheid impacts in South African communities by caring for vulnerable children and orphans, not only providing vital care, but also building the skills needed to succeed in life. More than 800,000 families live in the communities supported by Afrika Tikkun.
The Safelite Challenge, which was held on April 13, 2014, in Lake Mead, Las Vegas, invites Safelite’s employees and suppliers to participate in a number of ways while raising funds for Afrika Tikkun: individual or team triathlon or duathlon, a 5K fun walk, or a charity poker run on motorcycles. An online auction where employees bid on items donated by the company’s management team and vendors also supported the cause.
Three youth from Afrika Tikkun traveled to the U.S. to participate in the triathlon. Watch their story by clicking here.
The top performers of the triathlon and duathlon (individual or team) will have an opportunity to compete in a charity triathlon event held in Windsor, England, hosted by Safelite’s parent company Belron. The team will consist of:
Kate Buckler, administrative assistant, Columbus, Ohio
Jenny Kipker, treasury analyst, Columbus, Ohio
Brent Fiegel, lead warehouse associate, Davenport, Iowa
Amy Robinson, HR specialist, Columbus, Ohio
Jonathan Knight, technician, Boulder, Colorado
Whitney Schmiesing, marketing specialist, Columbus, Ohio
Brian DiMasi, senior corporate counsel, Legal Department, Columbus, Ohio
Paul Koehler, IT director, Columbus, Ohio
In addition, the following individuals were selected for their fundraising efforts:
Jon Laski, regional vice president, Orlando, Fla.
Dan Burgess, regional vice president, Dacula, Ga.
Lynn Johnson, administrative assistant, Columbus, Ohio
The following individuals were selected from a raffle for having been a five-year Safelite Challenge participant:
Laurence Day, quality manager, Sacramento, Calif.
Garth Beck, vice president, retail field operations, Salt Lake City, Utah
Steve Parker, district manager, Las Vegas
The following individuals were selected in a drawing where their names were in a hat for each $500 increment they raised to support the charity:
Scott Vance, vice president IT business engagement, Columbus, Ohio
Jerod Stefango, purchasing director, Columbus, Ohio
Shane Stemper, lead technician, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Brad Polinko, inventory analyst, Columbus, Ohio
Sika and PGW Glass served as co-presenting sponsors for the event.
“I continue to be inspired by the selflessness of Safelite’s people who give so openly of their time and energy to support a good cause,” says Tom Feeney, president and CEO of Safelite AutoGlass. “It’s these people, our wonderful associates, who make Safelite the company it is—people-focused and compassionate. Our sponsors who supported us financially and by attending the fundraiser are also deeply appreciated.”
