For many security services companies, giving back via charitable or community events is just part of the program. That said, at SD&I we believe it is our duty to publicize these acts of kindness, giving and community support – if for no other reason than to inspire more of these acts in the future. “Although it is a little awkward talking about giving, I’m so proud of our team and the many countless acts of kindness that they all embrace each year,” one integrator’s President and CEO told me. “The fact that we are sharing might inspire others to do more.”
For our part in 2016, SD&I was one of many sponsors of the now-annual Mission 500 Security Softball Game, which raised more than $55,000. Additionally, 300 school bags were filled with school supplies by game attendees for donation to children attending Title One schools in the South Bronx.
This article – which began as an annual December tradition in SD&I when I took over as Editor in Chief three years ago – has grown by leaps and bounds. This year, more than 50 firms submitted, and I believe that is reason enough for our industry to be proud of its contributions to the very neighborhoods and communities where we live and do business. While this is hardly a comprehensive account of what our industry does, here are the highlights of the charitable and community efforts that security dealers and integrators contributed in 2016:
A3 Communications (Columbia, S.C.): Sponsored the second annual “Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma – Columbia Thomas Mills Memorial 5K and Walk.” to raise critical research funds. “It’s important to me, and to A3, to support a foundation that garners awareness for this lesser-known disease,” said Tommy Abate, Senior Project Manager. “We feel like any assistance we can provide is the least we can do to give back to a community who has given us so much.” Learn more about the organization or disease, please visit www.scleroderma.org.
Access Control Technologies (Clifton, N.J.): Provided financial support through Hackensack University Medical Center to continue to support research to fight cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Ackerman Security Systems (Atlanta): As part of its new branch office in Philadelphia, employees participated in “A Stand for Hope, the Alex Scott Telethon” a 14-hour on-air benefit for the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), which raised nearly $5 million for pediatric cancer research. “We’re a business operated by people who live and work in the community,” said Jim Callahan, President and CEO. “We want to be active participants – we want to do our part.”
Act Now Alarm (Clinton Township, Mich.): For six years the company has supported the Roseville Neighborhood Watch group by participating in the National Night Out. Act Now focuses on educating the community on how to stay safe with a major emphasis on life safety – including a fire-safety workshop for kids and McGruff Safety ID kits for children.
ADS Security (Nashville, Tenn.): For the second year in a row, ADS held a company-wide food drive across all 21 branches to collect non-perishable food items for donation to local communities. Additionally, as part of its long-standing employee referral program, management earnings from referrals in 2016 are donated to military charities. ADS will also be participating in the Angel Tree program, which provides holiday gifts for children in foster care.
ADT/Protection 1: As part of its merger, ADT and Protection 1 have combined ADT’s “Always Cares” and Protection 1’s, “1 For All” programs. ADT hosted its Annual Week of Service in April 2016 – with 100-percent participation from all 225 ADT facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada – for projects to improve communities and help people in need. In all, 6,000 ADT volunteers served 20,000 hours of service at 250 projects. “I feel a personal responsibility to give back to my community,” says Christina Oldham of ADT’s Aurora, Colo., office. “It is a huge part of living a fulfilling life.” Protection 1’s “All For 1 Day” national day of service saw P1 donate thousands of hours of volunteer work to communities across the country through blood drives, clean-up projects, food and clothing drives, car washes and more. It also held the annual Food-for-All Month, a national food drive.
Advanced Cabling Systems (N. Little Rock, Ark.): Bought and distributed school supplies to neighborhood children and for an organization called Reaching Our Children and Neighbors. Additionally, employees collected items for the Louisiana Flood Relief Drive; and the company sponsored the Dickson Street Slide, benefiting the Soldier on Service Dogs organization, which trains and releases service dogs to veterans who suffer from PTSD or other ailments.
Advance Technology Inc. (Scarborough, Maine): Employees participate in a “Jean Friday,” where staff goes casual and those who have come in denim contribute various amounts of money to The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Additionally, the company assists local families with school supplies and backpack donations; sponsors a family through the Salvation Army during the holidays with gift donations; and participates in a “Stuff the Bus” pre-Thanksgiving food drive program sponsored by Preble Street, a non-profit which runs soup kitchens, shelters and food pantry in Portland, Maine.
American Fire & Security / The Security Girl (Dayton, Ohio): Teams with HHFD Local 2926 for the Annual GO PINK OR GO HOME campaign, including sponsorship of the famous Pink Fire Truck, fundraising events, and every Friday in October staff members wear the Pink Ribbon Girls T-Shirts to help spread the word about the fundraising campaign. Pink Ribbon Girls is a local non-profit organization that offers meals, medical transportation and house cleaning for families dealing with breast cancer.
Bonneville Contracting and Technology Group (Puerto Rico): Sponsored Adriana Berríos, a third-year Pre Med student at the University of Puerto Rico, who will be travelling with Medlife’s volunteer trip to Riobamba, Ecuador. Medlife partners with doctors and nurses of low income communities in Latin America to improve their access to medicine, education and community development initiatives.
CGL Electronic Security (Westwood, Mass.): Supports both financially and in leadership roles on the board of directors The Bridge Center, a local camp for children with disabilities. CGL has been involved with the camp for the past nine years.
Clear Protection Technologies, Inc. (Mesa, Ariz.): Created a program in 2015 called “Clear Cares,” which allows staff to pick a service event every quarter. In 2016, this included packing more than 2,000 meals for kids in the Philippines for Feed My Starving Children; hosting a Blood Drive; and volunteering at a Child Crisis Center.
Convergint Technologies (Schaumburg, Ill.): On Convergint Social Responsibility Day, the company pauses all operations so all North American employees can go into local communities and contribute to those in need. 2016 marked the 15th anniversary of the tradition. Some of the organizations supported included: Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, Good Samaritan Society, Hull Family Services, Boys and Girls Club, and Inspiration Corporation.
CPI Security (Charlotte, N.C.): Donations totaling more than $500,000 benefited the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Foundation, Police Departments from Apex, Raleigh, Durham and Greensboro, N.C., Greenville, S.C., and the Police Explorer’s Christmas program. Additionally, CPI partners and invests in St. Jude Children’s Research, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Boy Scouts of America and the Good Fellows Club just to name a few. “It is important to us that we are invested in the communities in which we live and work,” said Ken Gill, Founder and CEO. “Most of the time, our involvement goes beyond our donation; we try to partner with the organization to provide the maximum benefit.”
DynaFire (Casselberry, Fla.): To help support a local firefighter’s ill family member, the company participated in the Pink Heals Guardians of Central Florida’s Truck Pulling Contest. Additionally, DynaFire donated safety vests to Girl Scout Troop 1742; packed meals at Second Harvest Food Bank; volunteered at and attended the Annual Sweet Charity event hosted by The Sharing Center; and donated the rental fee for Camping World Stadium for the Back to School Bash, where 19,000-plus attended for school supplies, free haircuts, well vision and dental screenings.
Electric Guard Dog (Columbia, S.C.): Hurricane Matthew may have canceled the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Breakaway to the Beach race, but the inaugural Electric Guard Dog community leadership team nevertheless managed to raise $10,170 for MS research and assistance for those affected by the disease. “I was really proud and amazed to see how everyone at Electric Guard Dog came together – everybody came up with fundraisers to do here at the office,” said CEO Jack DeMao. “They sold homemade bookmarks, another sold employees the right to wear jeans in the office. Our customers and vendors came through as well – donating funds via their companies and individually.”
Electronic Sales Company (Gainesville, Ga.): ESC donates to many charitable organizations, including Glory, Hope & Life – where ESC President Counte Cooley and Vice President Jackie Cooley serve on the Board of Directors. GHL’s mission is to enrich the lives of those in the community touched by cancer through resources, programs and activities – such as utility payments, gas cards for travel to appointments and treatments, groceries, wigs, breast prosthesis, compression garments, and respite trips.
Electronix Systems Central Station Alarms Inc (Huntington Station, N.Y.): Again served as the primary sponsor of the St. Anthony’s Family Feast and Festival, a five-day festival that for local families to enjoy. Owner Fred Leonardo and many employees volunteer as the event, which raises on average $60,000 for charitable activities at the church and the Knights of Columbus.
EPS Security (Grand Rapids, Mich.): During “Maranda Park Parties,” EPS distributed more than 2000 McGruff Life Safety ID Kits. EPS also shares a sponsorship with E.S.C.A.P.E. Mobile whose friendly “Jake the Fire Safety Dog” teaches children how to escape during a home fire emergency. The company also partnered with the KlaasKids Foundation to bring their fingerprinting program to West Michigan as part of Grand Rapids Public Schools to attend their massive “Back-to-School” community celebration. Internally, EPS also sets aside an employee “jean day” to raise money for a diverse collection of charities, including Mackenzie’s Animal Shelter, Benjamin’s Hope, Father Fred Foundation, Carol’s Ferals, Autism Support of West Shore, National MS Society, American Cancer Society and Faith’s Angels.
First Alarm Security Services (Richmond, Calif.): On Oct. 5, the company closed its East Bay branch so staff could volunteer for the Save The Bay organization at the MLK Jr. Nursery in Oakland, Calif., where they participated in habitat rehabilitation efforts, cleaned planting pods, trimmed plants and cleaned the nursery.
First Choice Security, Inc. (West Springfield, Mass.): Teamed with Interlogix to donate a video camera system to the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, which provides a second chance for adoptable dogs, cats and occasionally other animals.
First Response Systems (Beaverton, Ore.): Employees volunteered at the Oregon Food Bank, where they packed frozen food and were able to help provide 12,017 meals in one day. Other efforts included: volunteering at Compassion Tigard, a free health clinic providing medical needs to low-income families; meal preparation for 20 individuals at Door to Grace, a non-profit organization providing a safe environment for sexually exploited girls; donations for Ronald McDonald House Charities; security systems and alarm monitoring to the Domestic Violence Resource Center; and financial donations to Blanchet House, Safe Families, West Hills Christian School, Mission 500, Compassion International, Bridge The Gap, Salvation Army White Shield, Embrace Oregon, Door to Grace, Crime Stoppers of Oregon, Northwest Children’s Outreach, Daily Hope, Colossae Church and CASA.
Guardian Protection Services (Warrendale, Pa.): Many months of fundraising led to the presentation of new adaptive bikes to four-year old Alvin Brown and 10-year old Artie Rhone - both children with disabilities – though Variety, the Children’s Charity and its “My Bike” program. “Most of us remember getting our first bike and getting our children their first bikes. It seems so minor – every kid wants a bike – but to realize that, for many children, riding a regular bike is just not possible, it makes you realize the importance of this program,” says President Joe Colosimo.
Holmes Security Systems (Fayetteville, N.C.): Donated $5,000 to the Fayetteville Police Foundation general fund and helped sponsor the Inaugural Police Ball, including serving as host for the FPD Officer of the Year and guest. The cash donation was in conjunction with a fundraising effort to provide an enhanced emergency notification system, additional funding for body cameras, assistance with the Chief’s public safety campaign, funding for Operation Cease Fire, and support for the Police Benevolent Fund, among other initiatives.
Kastle Systems (Falls Church, Va.): Installed 100 cameras with the equivalent of $1,200 donated for each for th Capital Shield program – a public-private partnership launched in late 2014 that unites the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with commercial property owners, businesses and institutions to protect the area. Additionally, employees volunteer throughout the year with various organizations such as SOME (So Other Might Eat), JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), Toys for Tots, Wounded Warriors and the annual MS Walk to fight Multiple Sclerosis.
Kimberlite Corp. dba Sonitrol (Fresno, Calif.): “We do many things in the community but one of the things we are most proud of is our commitment to our local schools,” says President/CEO Joey Rao-Russell. In Clovis, Calif., the company teamed with the police department to sponsor Back to School events providing backpacks and school supplies for kids in need.
KMT Systems (McDonough, Ga.): Participated in the Team Can 413 Project, designed to help special needs children participate in marathon and semi-marathon events. “You have no idea how seeing a child participating in the events will change your life – it is a special thing to witness,” owner Tommy Smith says. The company is also involved in the Shriners, as well as local events, recreational sports teams, school donations and more.
Loud Security Systems (Atlanta): Was a participating sponsor in the 5th Annual Golf Fore Hope tournament, benefiting the Bullock Hope House – a private home for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in the metro Atlanta area in partnership with the American Cancer Society – and the WellStar Foundation.
Low Voltage Contractors (Minneapolis): Employees donate money, LVC provides a company match and those funds are used to purchase more than $6,000 worth of holiday gifts for families at the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis and Rochester, Minn. The company also donated and installed wireless card readers at a retreat center which supports parents and families coping with the death or medically complex condition of a child.
Midco (Burr Ridge, Ill.): Donated more than $17,000 to charitable organizations including the Children's Miracle Network, the Follett Foundations, the 60-mile Breast Cancer walk (in support of an employee) and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Midstate Security (Wyoming, Mich.): Through employee and company contributions, the company purchased a new defibrillator for a local veteran’s home, where employees also volunteered to help build planter boxes and repair a greenhouse, in the first half of 2016. Then, the company raised money to purchase a new bite training suit for their local Police K9 unit. Additionally, employees donated two large boxes of snacks, treats, and essentials for our troops in Afghanistan.
My Alarm Center (Newtown Square, Pa.): The company CEO, COO and SVP of Business Development participated in the Covenant House Sleep-out Executive Edition, benefiting homeless youth. Additionally, the company is an annual sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure; employees organized a candy gram exchange on Valentine’s Day to raise money for the American Heart Association; hosted an annual coat drive to benefit Women Against Abuse; as well as specific charitable efforts on behalf of employees.
Northland Controls (Fremont, Calif.): Employees joined with Grid Alternatives to install 99 solar panels at the Bear River Band of Rohernville Rancheria. Six families will see more $220,000 in energy cost savings throughout the lifespan of the solar panels. Part of Northland’s biannual Northland Challenge – where employees and clients go somewhere in the world and are given the challenge of traveling throughout the country without the use of technology – team members raised more than $50,000 to help cover the costs of panels. “Over the years, we have experienced some fantastic adventures and challenges but discovered we gained the most from the local service projects in which we were lucky enough to participate,” says CEO Pierre Trapanese.
NorthStar Home (Orem, Utah): Held the NorthStar Office Olympics to raise money for the Utah Special Olympics. Employees were divided into “countries” and competed in six events (table tennis, chair curling, paperwad basketball, cornhole shot put, mini soccer and pie diving). The total donation was $4,455.
Per Mar Security (Davenport, Iowa): Chartered in 1980, Per Mar’s Charity Fund is funded completely by employees, which the company matches dollar-for-dollar. As of October, the company had given $58,917 in charitable contributions in our local markets in 2016. Employees also volunteered at various charitable events and organizations, which included the Junior Achievement Bowl-a-Thon and the Hand-in-Hand Chili Cook Off.
ProTech Security (N.Canton, Ohio): Company founder Daniel McKimm worked on a task team initiative to bring a community broadband fiber initiative to our county. Through the efforts of large and small business, institutional, local government officials and individuals, they were able to accrue $65,000 in donations to pay for a community broadband fiber feasibility study, with the goal of Open Access for all to the internet.
The Protection Bureau (Exton, Pa.): For the last 13 years, the company has given scholarships to 6-8 children of current employees who enroll in formal programs for post-high school education, and these awards help to defray the costs of tuition and/or books. Other charitable efforts include: support a year-long food and clothing drive for local food banks; collected old eyeglasses and hearing aids New Eyes for the Needy; donated to Good Works, which repairs homes for the elderly and underserved; sponsored fundraisers for the Domestic Violence Center and Safe Harbor; supported fundraising programs for diseases including Alzheimer’s, heart disease, MS, cancer and others; the “Angel Tree” program at a local church; donated or sponsored events for Paws4Life, Gilda’s Club, Gordon Bowker, Chester County Hospital, Hospice & Homecare Foundation of Main Line Health, Handi-Crafters, Mosaic South Africa and others.
Red Hawk Fire & Security (Boca Raton, Fla.): Donated a fire alarm system for a training center for Soldier’s Best Friend – a charitable organization in Arizona that provides veterans with Service or Therapeutic Companion Dogs to help them recover from combat-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). “The real contribution was the commitment our Red Hawk people made to donate their time off the clock to get the fire system installed and tested so they can open their new facility,” said Dave Walters, a Marine veteran and General Manager of Red Hawk’s Arizona office. Red Hawk also installed access control and video systems for the facility at minimal cost via donations.
RFI Communications & Security Systems (San Jose, Calif.): Collects donations of personal necessities for homeless veterans through Home First Santa Clara County every year in October and November, as well as charitable support for organizations year such as Alzheimer's Care, Foster Children, Flood Relief charities and hunger. Additionally, the company conducts collection drives to support Toys For Tots, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara County, One Warm Coat, and other local charities.
SafeCom Security Solutions, Inc. (Buford, Ga.): Donated to Gwinnett County Police to help with their “Cops N Kids” program, and to the Gwinnett Children's Shelter to help afford homeless children their everyday needs.
Securadyne Systems (Dallas): More than 300 employees in 18 different offices participated in a company-wide Community Service Day on Oct. 7. Employees volunteered with a variety of projects, including: building houses and cleaning up yards with Habitat for Humanity; sanding and painting at the Tammy Lynn Center in Raleigh; cleaning up an animal shelter in Austin; installing access control systems at the GoldenKey Center for Exceptional Children in Canton; and inspecting and packing food at the Feed More food bank in Richmond.
Security-Net: As part of a new annual tradition at ASIS, the network of 21 integration firms decided to take the funds they once used on booth giveaways and instead make a contribution to a charity in the host city of the conference. This year’s recipient was Operation Freedom Paws, which trains veterans to train their own dogs and certify them together as a service team as part of a 48-week program. Read the full story in this program at www.securityinfowatch.com/12254308.
Silent Guard (Somerset, Ky.): Employees and President/CEO Dwight Sears worked alongside Darlene Santore, Ambassador for Team USA’s International Pay it Forward Day. As the appointed Kentucky Coordinator, Sears’ role was to create statewide awareness and encourage support to reach a goal of more 10 million acts of kindness worldwide on that single day, April 28th. Additionally, the company provided much needed equipment to a new homeless shelter; donated to God’s Food Pantry; and hosted a First Responders Appreciation Day to give a free meal to any first responder.
Sonitrol Evansville (Evansville Ind.): “We heard through the grapevine that our local Evansville Police Dept. was in the market for a new K9,” Customer Service Specialist Dawn Lara explains. “We offered to help purchase the new dog, and the department was so thankful, they offered to let us name him.” In honor of the franchise’s founder, the late Dr. William “Doc” Standring, employees voted overwhelmingly to name the dog Doc. Since Doc has been on the job, he has already apprehended several individuals.
Southeastern Security Professionals (Norcross, Ga.): Volunteered with Hillside Inc. – which helps children and families with community mental health services – by providing a helping hand with tasks such as cooking, face painting, games and many other fun activities for a group of children ranging in ages 7-21.
Surveillance Systems Inc. (Rocklin, Calif.): President Todd Flowers is one of the founders and current board member of the non-profit Allegiant Giving, which – through the help of SSI customer Black Oak Casino – purchased Action Trac Chairs for two charities. Each $15,000 all-terrain wheelchair “enables the disabled,” and they were donated to Tuolumne Trail, which provides services to children and adults with special medical needs; and to Vietnam Veteran Gary Boyd.
Toca Alarm Service Inc. (Kenner, La.): Donated $25 to breast cancer awareness for each new alarm system sold during the month of October.
Universal Atlantic Systems (Paoli, Pa.): Allows employees to make a weekly donation – with company match – to the Ronald McDonald House through payroll deduction for opportunity to dress down on Fridays. Each year, the company raises enough money to cover the cost of a room for a full year, providing families the ability to stay close to their child. Employees also volunteered to go to the Ronald McDonald House to serve breakfast or dinner. The company also participates in an Angel Tree donation through the Family Support Services to provide gifts for up to 150 children.
Universal Surveillance Systems (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif): The USS Foundation is dedicated to helping poor and less fortunate children. Working both locally and nationally, they support community food banks, hospitals, homeless shelters and youth education. In 2016, the USS Foundation united leaders from across the security industry to raise more than $44,000 to support underprivileged children and families, through its 8th Annual Charity Golf Tournament. During the Holiday season, the Foundation hosts the annual Thanksgiving Care-A-Van, where more than 200 families are given full holiday dinners, and the Holiday Merrython, which features events ranging from visits to special needs children’s hospitals to dinners for the needy.
Vector Security (Warrendale, Pa.): Once again supported the Salvation Army’s “Project Bundle Up” shopping event for children in need. A large group of employee volunteers turned out at the Burlington Store in Pittsburgh on Oct. 15 to help children – ranging from 5 to 12 years old – select coats, scarves, hats and other cold-weather gear. The company supports other Salvation Army holiday events, including the Red Kettle Campaign and Treasures for Children. Additionally, employees participated in The American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk; collected food for the benefit of the Salvation Army Food Bank in Wilkes Barre, Pa.; and held a Backpack School Supply Drive, with more than 30 backpacks filled with school supplies donated to Prepare for Success in Howard County, Md.
Vivint: In the past year, employees contributed more than 10,000 volunteer hours and raised approximately $2 million for its core philanthropic cause of improving the lives of children with intellectual disabilities and their families. The company raised this record-breaking amount through employee contributions, company matching, and public events such as a 5K Charity Run for Heroes. Additionally, the company contributed $100,000 to Autism Speaks and installed dozens of smart home systems for families; built 10 sensory rooms at schools and treatment centers across the country for children on the autism spectrum; built a health center in Tlaxcala, Mexico, which had no facilities to help approximately 44,000 disabled residents; built sensory rooms and renovated classrooms in Peru; and teamed with Feed My Starving Children to package 272,160 meals for struggling children in Haiti, Cambodia and Nicaragua.
VTI Security (Burnsville, Minn.): Supports many causes, including food pantries and an animal rescue center. Our most focused efforts across all offices is toward Military Personnel Support, such as Fisher House Foundation events in three cities on an annual basis; over 30 meals purchased across all cities for military in uniform; and resume assistance for two dozen military transitioning to civilian work force.
Editor’s Note: To submit your company’s charitable and community efforts for 2017’s Security Gives Back section, simply email me at [email protected] with details and photos.
Paul Rothman is Editor in Chief of Security Dealer & Integrator (SD&I) magazine. Access the current issue, archives and subscribe at www.secdealer.com.
