Throughout the year, our Heritage family will collect items for our neighbors in need. Together, leveraging the power of family to shape a better, brighter future for our communities and our world. In May, we collected more than 3,200 items, including toys, backpacks and snacks, for foster kids across the country.
Proudly, We Are AMI
At The Heritage Group and companies, we pride ourselves on doing the right thing, always. With so many causes to champion, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to determine what’s most important – for both our communities and our companies.
The Heritage Group is committed to harnessing the power of family and shaping a better, brighter future through teamwork and a shared commitment to our values. With more than 6,000 individuals working around the United States and beyond, we have the people and resources to positively impact the communities in which we live. Our emphasis on employee involvement and meaningful community partnerships provides us with an uncommon opportunity to tackle some of today’s biggest challenges and seek out new opportunities for good in our hometowns.
Our two pillars for giving are Thriving Children and Prospering Communities. We aim to equip, educate and inspire our children to ensure their success, and we invest in people, places and spaces to strengthen communities and empower residents. By providing not just assistance, but also leveraging strengths, we are tackling the challenges of today, while investing in a better tomorrow for our families, our neighbors, and our world. We do most of our service and giving on a local level, but our size and geographic diversity enable us to make a significant impact throughout the country.
Opportunities to Give and Serve Throughout the Year
The Heritage Group and companies created an internal initiative to support local organizations among our various locations. All members of the Heritage family are invited to participate in these initiatives in whatever ways make sense for them. A group of impact champions and leaders are managing this initiative, called The Social Impact Task Force, who is committed to bringing together employees from across The Heritage Group to help create, implement and champion cross-company community initiatives. The goal of the group is to identify local organizations to support around the rotating giving collection themes throughout the year.
The Social Impact Task Force was created to unify pillars for strategic giving among the Heritage family of companies. With a membership of twelve employees from across The Heritage Group, the task force aims to tackle the big problems by stepping out and meeting the needs of our communities. This year’s Give Bag campaigns support the goals of thriving children and prosperous communities, whether they’re close to home in the Midwest or as far as Houston, Texas.
Throughout the year, Heritage companies collect items for our neighbors in need. From school supplies to canned goods, to holiday gifts for underserved families, our collective generosity provides assistance for our fellow community members. Give Bags, handed out during a collection drive, are a fun way to encourage donations within our organization. On an ongoing basis, they can be a tangible reminder that there is always a need somewhere in the community.
May’s Give Bag Theme: Foster Children & Families
During the Give Bag collection in May, the Heritage family collected donations for local organizations that support foster kids and families. Together, we collected more than 3,200 items, including toys, backpacks and snacks, for foster kids across the country.
This isn’t the first time the Heritage family has come together to fill our Give Bags. March 2022 was the initiative’s inaugural campaign, focusing on diapers and diapering supplies to benefit local diaper banks. All in all, Heritage employees collected more than 66,000 items for organizations across the country – and we won’t stop there. Collections will take place in July and September of this year, focusing on donations of school supplies and domestic violence shelter needs, respectively.
Local spotlight: AMI’s Benton and Mt. Vernon Plants supported Wabash Area Development in Harrisburg, Illinois, for May’s Give Bag Campaign. Wabash Area Development works with foster kids and families within the community and was very appreciative of the teams’ support1. Everyone at the two plants pitched in and purchased the following items that were requested by Wabash Area Development:
- Cases of baby wipes
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Kids shampoo and soap
- Kids lotions
- Bath sponges and kids’ towels
Thanks to our Benton and Mt. Vernon teams for their contributions to support this campaign!
For the AMI family, May’s collection hit close to home. Warsaw Plant Operator Mike Wagley and his wife, Misty, have served as foster parents for 16 years. The children they’ve taken in through the program have ranged in age from 1 year to 17 years old.
“Most kids only come into the home with a bag of clothes to their name, and most of the clothes aren’t fit to use.”
Mike Wagley, AMI
Mike and Misty help their foster kids find a sense of normalcy by encouraging them to participate in school activities, sports and music. As a foster family, they enjoy going bowling, camping and visiting local racetracks.
Todd Hillard, AMI senior purchasing manager, and his wife, Keely, had a desire to give back and began opening their home to kids in need last year. They currently have two foster kids, ages 2 and 4.
“I’m glad that our organization is supporting those in need. Foster families need support through both material needs and emotional needs.”
Todd Hillard, AMI
HC+M’s Strategic Communications Director Patti Gault experienced the foster care system as a child and knows firsthand the power of a foster family.
“It wasn’t an easy time for me – I felt abandoned, like no one loved me or cared enough to protect me and help me succeed. So, personally, my heart goes out to the kids who are part of the system. It is hard to understand that this time won’t last forever when you are living through it.”
Patti Gault, HC+M
Years later, Patti’s personal experience has translated into action. As Vice Chair of the Social Impact Task Force, she championed the Give Bag initiative as a way to harness the power of the Heritage family to do good in our communities2. Recently, she completed training with the Morgan County CASA program3 and now serves as a court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children in her county.
Summary
Through the collective power of our Heritage family, we as a company have the opportunity to help children thrive and our communities prosper. As an organization, The Heritage Group is deeply committed to being a positive force in our communities, lending hands to support our neighbors in need.
Around the country, employees at our Heritage family of companies donated hundreds of hours of time and thousands of dollars of resources to support their communities and help vulnerable individuals and families during a time of fear or uncertainty. Consider how you might make a contribution to meet the needs in your own community!
Resources
1 https://asphalt-materials.com/locations/
2 To read the full story of Gault’s personal experiences as a foster child: https://thgrp.com/supporting-foster-families/
3 https://www.childadvocates.net/
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