On the Monday after Thanksgiving every year, Paul Hanna sets up a live “Giving Tree” in the front lobby of Blue Technologies Inc. and decorates it with just lights. Hanna, the document management company’s president, then asks employees to bring in gifts to be given to the children of the Berea Children’s Home and Family Services.
For each gift they bring in, they are given an ornament to hang on the tree and before long, the tree is full of decorations.
It’s a program that brings smiles to a lot of children, but it also boosts the morale of Hanna’s employees. And that, in a nutshell, sums up the mission of Hanna and his team of partners, which includes Keith Stump, vice president of sales, Bill Nelson, vice president of territory sales, and David Morrill, sales manager.
Giving back to the local community in a way that helps children has always been part of Blue Technologies long-term vision. The company annually donates more than $100,000 to organizations such as the Cavaliers Youth Fund, the Bellflower Center for Prevention of Child Abuse, The Gathering Place, the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Applewood Centers, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Berea Children’s Home and Family Services.
Through its partnership with the Berea Children’s Home, the firm has become the lead sponsor in its annual golf outing, donating more than $20,000. In this difficult economy, the golf outing grosses about $125,000 to $140,000 to award scholarships to children in need. Last year, scholarships totaling $115,000 were given to 23 students.
Employees also stepped up in May when a tornado ripped through Joplin, Mo., collecting food and clothing for the victims. The items were packaged and later shipped to the American Red Cross to help more than 100 people in Joplin.
HOW TO REACH: Blue Technologies Inc., (216) 271-4800 or www.btohio.com
