Sleep Train, a mattress company based in Kent, has been chosen as a recipient of the 2016 Corporations for Communities Award, which honors exceptional Washington businesses that make it a priority to help their communities.
Sleep Train in Kent and Bellevue-based Republic Services are the two winners of the large-company category. Birch Equipment in Bellingham and US Martial Arts Center in Olympia are the two winners of the small-company category.
Secretary of State Kim Wyman presented the companies with a National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award at a ceremony in her office on Monday. The award recognizes civic engagement, voter education efforts, government services and a commitment to giving back to the community.
“Our state is fortunate to have so many companies that give back to their communities in tangible ways,” Wyman said. “I look forward to honoring several of these caring and compassionate corporations that make a difference.”
Sleep Train was nominated for hosting many donation drives at retail locations, collecting more than 380,000 items, such as pajamas, shoes, clothing items, school supplies and gifts during the holidays, valued at $4.2 million in 2015 to support foster children.
The company supported many local nonprofits, including The Wishing Well Foundation, Compass Health, Blue Skies for Children, and the Pacific Northwest chapter of Olive Crest; hosted its annual Pajama Bowl in Seattle to support foster children, raising nearly $170,000; donated $100,000 to Treehouse to help foster youth obtain GEDs and get into college; and provided more than 2,500 tickets to foster kids and foster families for admission to Wild Waves Theme Park, the Washington State Fair and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Elsewhere
Moneytree Express is a recipient of a FiSCA Activa Award for its contributions to its community through volunteerism and charitable contributions.
Moneytree made a $3,000 donation to the Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) in Kent. PICC provides specialized, 24-hour nursing care for drug-affected and medically fragile newborns. The center was established in 1991 to bridge the gap between hospital and home care for infants going through drug withdrawal.
Since the start of their partnership in 2007 with PICC, Moneytree has donated $15,550. Moneytree received its award during a luncheon at the annual PROFiSCA conference in October in National Harbor, Md.
“Financial service centers are trusted neighbors,” said Ed D’Alessio, executive director of the Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA). “Through volunteering and making donations, each member is demonstrating how it values the causes important to their customers. These are admirable contributions and are reflective of commitment FiSCA members have for the communities they serve.”
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