Schneider charitable giving tops $1.5 million in 2019

The Schneider Foundation has been giving generously to eligible non-profit organizations for decades, and 2019 was no exception — with donations exceeding $1.5 million. Those donations come directly from revenues, a portion of which have been set aside to help improve the communities in which associates live, work and volunteer.

As we consider where to give, the Foundation focuses on four things:

• Health and human services.
• Education.
• Children’s causes.
• Arts and culture.

We use a variety of charitable giving methods to support those efforts.

Top 6 charitable giving highlights from 2019:

1. United Way campaign

For decades, Schneider has been a strong supporter of the United Way — through individual associate contributions and a Foundation contribution. In fact, Schneider consistently appears as one of their top five corporate donors in Brown County.

In 2019, Erin Van Zeeland, vice president in logistics, joined the Brown County United Way board of directors — and became the new enterprise sponsor of the Schneider campaign.

With new leadership came some exciting new events, like a cup stacking contest and a coin flipping heads or tails tournament.

In the end, the enterprise raised $343,797 for the United Way, which included a $120,000 corporate gift from the Foundation.

2. In-kind donations

Schneider drivers and trucks are the backbone of our enterprise and one of the most noticeable and notable aspects of our brand. That’s why it really leaves an impression when a Schneider truck and professional driver show up to transport a load for charity at no cost.

In 2019, we transported about 35 loads with a value of approximately $50,000.

A few great examples:

• Moving high school band equipment to the Rose Bowl.
• Transporting coffee to military troops deploying overseas.
• Moving the Truckers Against Trafficking educational trailer.
• Hauling the National Safety Council’s portable “Prescribed to Death” memorial.

3. Pay It Forward program

Each year, 100 lucky Schneider associates are randomly chosen to receive a $100 donation made in their name to a charity of their choice — for a total of $10,000.

Most associates select organizations with which they have a personal connection, either through personal volunteerism or having had received services.

Examples include:

• Children’s hospitals.
• Medical research.
• Food pantries.
• Homeless shelters.

This is another avenue the Foundation uses to help make connections between associates and the charities that are important to them.

4. Giving Orange initiative

Schneider associates are asked to voluntarily donate to the Giving Orange fund a few times a year, and the money is used to help fellow associates in a time of need.

In 2019, associates donated nearly $12,000 — which was used to help 22 associates who had unexpected, catastrophic and unavoidable losses from things like fires, illnesses and floods.

To encourage the donations, the summer collection featured a silly-string contest — and the winter collection was the popular “hoodies for the holidays” to earn extra casual days.

Regardless of how the funds are raised, the results is that when the unexpected happens, Schneider and its associates step in to help, just like family.

5. Dollars for Doers program

Schneider associates are known for their generosity — as demonstrated by the 6,389 volunteer hours they reported donating to the charities they love in 2019.

Whether it’s helping out the Red Cross with blood drives, leading a Girl Scout troop or serving on the board of a non-profit, associates are out in their communities making a difference.

As a way of supporting them, the Schneider Foundation makes a $250 donation to their charity if they volunteer 50 hours of time or more (most were more). By doing so, we gave out $16,250 to some amazing organizations.

6. Foundation donations

Foundation grants are given out directly to organizations in the communities where Schneider associates live, work and volunteer. We believe that by giving back, we all move ahead. Of the funds donated, more than two-thirds were given to causes focused on health and human services and children’s causes.

A few of the great organizations and causes we gave to in 2019:

• NeighborWorks Green Bay.
• American Red Cross.
• Boys and Girls Club.
• Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.
• Make-a-Wish.

In addition, our larger facilities outside Green Bay have their own budget that they allocate to support eligible causes in their own neighborhoods. For example:

• Indianapolis - $10,000 to the Wheeler Mission, a local food bank.
• West Memphis - $10,000 to Families in Transition, a domestic violence shelter.

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In addition to these highlights, check out more of Schneider’s charitable giving blog posts, and stay tuned to how we give back even more in 2020!