Chamber honors Stilwell facility with ‘Employer of the Quarter Award’

Stilwell Chamber of Commerce President
Sharon Jackson recently presented our dessert
facility in Stilwell, Oklahoma, with the
"Employer of the Quarter Award."

April 13, 2017 — Our dessert facility in Stilwell, Oklahoma, which is part of our SFC Global Supply Chain division, was recently named the “Employer of the Quarter” by the Stilwell Chamber of Commerce for its strong participation in enriching the community economically and through volunteerism and charitable efforts. The Stilwell facility is the first recipient of the new award, which will be granted quarterly to Stilwell Chamber of Commerce members.

“SFC Global Supply Chain’s dessert facility has been a long-time employer of this community offering several opportunities for residents,” said Dan Collins, member of Stilwell Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. “It is important as a Chamber supporting our area businesses that we celebrate those who positively impact our community.”

Collins said the award recipients are selected based on two criteria: first, they must be a member of the Stilwell Chamber of Commerce; and second, the business must make lasting contributions to the Stilwell community through employment opportunities as well as charitable and volunteerism activities.

Chamber President Sharon Jackson recently visited our dessert facility, where she met with Senior Director of Manufacturing Jonathan Vanderheiden and presented him with a certificate of appreciation.

“We are honored to be selected as the first recipient of this award,” Vanderheiden said. “I would like to thank our Stilwell team for their efforts in supporting our community.”

In late 2016, our team from the dessert facility in partnership with the Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation presented a total of $11,000 in grants to three youth programs and organizations in Adair County. They included:

• $6,000 donation to the Adair County Backpack program. This program provides nutritional meals for elementary students in need during the school year. The program discreetly provides food at the end of the day on Fridays for children to take for their weekend meals. It is estimated that more than 80 students receive meals through this program. The management team at the dessert facility helped assemble the food into the backpacks several times this past year. The team helped optimize the packing system, which helped expedite the packing process from a couple of hours to 30 minutes.
  
  
• $2,500 donation to the Adair Boys and Girls Club. This donation helped extend care before and after school for children in pre-kindergarten up to eighth grade. Activities from the Adair Boys and Girls Club provide youth with mentors and educational opportunities that will help the students grow into their full potential.
  
• $2,500 donation to the Adair County 4-H. This grant was used in the organization’s Youth Development program, which provides opportunities for mental, physical and social growth. Informal education provided by the Cooperative Extension Service supplements the training received in the home, church, school and other youth-serving agencies. 4-H educates through individual project work, local clubs, project groups, events and activities, short-term programs, school enrichment and after school programs.
  

The donated funds came from the Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation as part of its effort to support communities in which large numbers of Schwan subsidiary employees live and work. The charitable organization is focused on efforts to end hunger, promote youth education and leadership development, and provide essential services that advance the health of communities. The foundation is headquartered in Marshall, Minnesota.