Building stronger communities, one house at a time
Twelve families in Michigan and Minnesota now have roofs over their heads thanks in part to 350 PBG employees who spent weekends in 2007 building homes with Habitat for Humanity.
The link between PBG and Habitat for Humanity was forged by Scott Gillesby, Senior Vice President and General Manager of PBG’s Central Business Unit, and his colleagues. From employee surveys, they realized that PBG people were eager to roll up their sleeves and give back to their communities.
Before long, PBG employees from 18 locations in the Central Business Unit were sawing wood and pounding nails for families who’d soon become their neighbors. In many cases, PBG employees and these families worked together and shared in the pride of making a dream come true.
Local motion
“PBG may be an international business, but to the communities where we work every day, we’re a local company,” says Gillesby. “Habitat for Humanity was ideal because it gave us all a chance to make our neighborhoods better, and to have a more personal impact beyond the economic benefits of our business.”
One project that was especially meaningful to Gillesby and his team was organized for their former colleague who lost his home after an accident paralyzed him in 2006. “It was emotional for all of us,” says Gillesby. “But we were determined to do something extraordinary for our friend.”
The PBG team in Milan, Michigan, built and furnished a new, handicapped-accessible home for the man and his family. They also “adopted” the family as part of their annual “Adopt a Family” holiday program.
Gillesby says that Habitat for Humanity gave his team a chance to show another side to its drive and determination. It also strengthened the organization by bringing together employees from different locations, levels and functions.
The effort was such a resounding success among employees, communities and, most important, the new homeowners that plans are underway to expand the program to more locations and more employees in 2008. “We’re aiming for 22 Habitat builds this year,” says Gillesby. “What better way to celebrate our success?”
*Answer: (B) $250,000 houses for 1 million people
Did you know...*
Habitat For Humanity has built houses in more than 3,000 communities. How many houses have been built, and how many people have been provided with safe, decent, affordable shelter?
A 100,000 houses for 400,000 people
B 250,000 houses for 1 million people
C 400,000 houses for 2 million people
