Ace survey puts communities first
When Ace Hardware Corp. surveyed its dealers to find out all the ways they contribute to their communities, a whopping 99% of the 353 responses that came back mentioned donations to charitable organizations.
That’s just one of the findings of the co-op’s first-ever retailer "Community Involvement Survey," which set out to determine how Ace store owners and associates give back to the communities they serve. The 2015 survey results, which generated responses from 353 retail stores, indicated that while Ace retailers contribute to various causes and charitable initiatives -- from veteran’s organizations and ending homelessness to disaster relief and environmental causes -- a majority of respondents are involved in supporting local youth-based organizations and advocacy programs.
“Our local Ace owners continue to demonstrate that a servant heart is not the enemy of a successful business, but rather the enabler of it,” said John Venhuizen, president and CEO of Oak Brook, Illinois-based Ace Hardware Corporation.
Highlights from the survey include:
• 88% contributed to youth education and advocacy programs in 2014, including Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
• 84% contributed to youth sports activities, including PeeWee football or cheerleading, little league teams and local school teams.
• 55% contributed to organizations that support Veterans initiatives and programs.
• 52% contributed to fighting hunger with such organizations as Feeding America or their local food bank.
• 71% contributed to humanitarian and community organizations, such as The United Way, YMCA, Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity.
• 57% of store associates volunteered in their community, not on behalf of their local Ace Hardware store.
• 85% of Ace stores implemented some type of environmentally sustainable practice; 69% have recycling programs.
“Being involved with our local youth organizations in Nashville is important for Hart Ace Hardware, as it seemed only natural to support the organizations that make up the fabric of the communities we’re in,” said Robin Shope, secretary and treasurer of Hart Ace Hardware. “As a small business, it’s our duty and honor to be able to help local youth organizations succeed any way that they can.”