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For many companies in the industry, helping others has nothing to do with free publicity and everything to do with caring about their communities and making a worthwhile difference in the lives of both the recipients and the companies’ staff.
Located on Florida’s Marco Island, Marco Canvas & Upholstery has a history of giving back to the community—a tradition managing member Edward Skrzynski Jr. wanted to continue when he bought the company in 2008, even though the recent purchase had put him “on a thin dime.” So when he was approached by nearby St. Matthew’s House, a shelter and food pantry, about providing a shade canopy to help protect those being fed outdoors, he figured out a way to make it happen.
St. Matthew’s House didn’t have the budget for the canopy, which posed several challenges. Skrzynski approached his metal and fabric suppliers for donations and reduced pricing—handling the design, fabrication, validating fire code compliance, permitting and installation at no charge. Through donations, St. Matthew’s House was able to afford the remaining raw materials necessary to complete the project with its long-term functionality in mind.
“We built a 40-foot-wide-by-20-foot-projection canopy with cooking and serving stations as well as picnic tables in the shade for pennies on the dollar,” Skrzynski says. “The homeless and the folks at St. Matthew’s House could not have been more kind. Always offering us water, insisting we break bread with them at lunch and saying prayers for our safety. It was humbling, as I don’t do this for recognition. I do it to feed my soul.”
Several years later, noticing the main entrance to the local school his children attended was an exposed concrete ramp that became dangerously slippery during rainfall, Skrzynski decided to act. Being a new private school, the budget wasn’t there. Nevertheless, Marco Canvas designed, engineered, permitted, fabricated a cover, poured concrete and created signage directing students where to go.
“The kids loved watching us work, and we gained more contacts with other parents when the project was completed and word got around that we donated it,” Skrzynski says. “It was good to be able to give something the school would use for years.”
Community involvement has also been a longtime value for Alpha Tubular Motors LLC. For more than 15 years, the company has focused on making a “positive impact on the lives of others,” says David Fezer, CEO and founder. With headquarters in San Bernardino, Calif., and Tuggerah, Australia, the company specializes in providing tubular motors to manufacturers in the window furnishing industry.
One of the company’s key U.S. initiatives is Alpha Care, where in partnership with local organizations such as the Promise of Faith, the company provides financial support for meals given to the homeless, each week assisting around 200–300 people in San Bernardino County. Occasionally employees use the Alpha Care bus, which the company has owned for about four years, to help deliver the meals in person. Overseas in Sydney, financial support for the Australia-based SWAG Family Sydney, which also provides vital resources to the unhoused there, the company assists 200–300 families weekly.
“Our efforts also extend internationally, sponsoring organizations like Missing in Action, the Little Blue Shed, World Vision and others that create significant positive change,” Fezer adds. “We are driven by the belief that where there is a need, we should help, making a meaningful impact wherever we can.”
Deciding what and how
Skrzynski says Marco Canvas leans toward projects targeting kids in need and groups that also give back. Because the company makes shade systems incorporating metal and textiles as well as provides outdoor upholstery, most of its charitable work centers around what it can design, engineer, fabricate or teach, he says.
Marco Canvas recently partnered with Project B.U.I.L.D., an organization targeting youth exiting the foster care system who want to learn trade skills. Skrzynski says they’re in the process of establishing the curriculum, although they intend to provide training on sewing, CAD and welding.
Referring to the types of recipients the company often helps, Skrzynski says, “However, I don’t always stay in those lanes. For example, at the start of the pandemic, we made 20,000 masks for our two local hospitals as well as for our police and fire departments.”
When deciding what organizations and community activities to support, Fezer likes getting personally involved, witnessing the impact firsthand. It’s more than just contributing financially, he explains. Instead, he wants to understand how the organizations are making a difference and having a “meaningful, real-world impact.”
Aligning with values
Additionally, Fezer looks for organizations/activities that closely align with his business values—honesty, integrity, transparency—seeking out those that will result in a positive transformative change.
Jennie Rossi, sales forecasting and planning manager for TVF, headquartered in Carmel, Ind., with another location outside of
Los Angeles, says the company doesn’t have a formal policy when determining what organizations and activities to support.
“However, we do try and steer clear of organizations completely supported by politics and/or religion,” she says. “Our goal is to help everyone, everywhere. We tend to look for activities that can involve some team building/bonding while also giving back.”
TVF supplies fabrics designed to meet specific customer applications in the apparel, industrial, print media and home décor markets. The company has participated in multiple giving-back opportunities such as the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program and packing meals for the Kids Against Hunger organization, says Rossi. Additionally, in January 2021, the company launched its
Social Impact Pillar.
“This was created to acknowledge that the efforts performed within it were important to TVF,” she explains, adding that a committee was developed and a yearly budget established. “A decision was made to include it as part of our culture. We came up with a mission statement: ‘Improve the quality of life where we work and live by serving and supporting our communities and environment.’”
TVF began in November 2021 by holding its first American Red Cross blood drive, open to the public, at company headquarters. The company also made a one-time donation to two charities: the Ronald McDonald House and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Employees were able to vote on which charities to support via TVF’s “Behind the Charity” series presented on the company’s collaboration platform that highlighted several organizations. Once the featured charities were narrowed down, a vote was taken, with all employees encouraged to participate.
TVF also partnered with the Red Cross to provide CPR training and certification to any interested employees. Held online in the late spring/summer of 2022 (enabling remote staff to participate), the course had about a 40% participation rate.
“My hope is to get the team recertified here in the upcoming year,” Rossi says. “Knowing how to assist and perform CPR is an all-day, everyday lifesaving opportunity. The class and certification do come with a cost, but it’s worth the cost of saving a life.”
Facilitating helping, reaping benefits
Being an employee-owned organization has not only contributed to a positive internal culture, but it also has helped foster employee participation in charitable activities, says Rossi. TVF intentionally facilitates outreach opportunities for employees, as this significantly impacts whether the team will participate.
“Many people think about giving back to their communities and beyond,” she says. “The difficulty most of us run into is how and when. When a company can organize and support this type of work, it’s more likely their employees will participate.”
Fezer says Alpha employees are “deeply involved” in the company’s giving-back efforts, explaining he encourages participation by creating meaningful opportunities for them to contribute, ensuring they feel empowered to do so. The company prefers to support the same organizations, deepening and growing its contribution over time.
“The advantage of this approach is that it enables us to build enduring relationships and witness the true impact of our efforts,” Fezer explains. “By consistently supporting these organizations, we can help them achieve long-term, sustainable outcomes while fostering trust and collaboration. Rather than shifting our focus, we actively seek out additional organizations to support, allowing us to expand our impact while staying true to our core charitable organization(s).”
As for TVF, Rossi says the company always hosts Red Cross blood drives, but she does like mixing things up, providing new opportunities to keep participation and interest high. As she explains, not everyone is passionate about the same things, making it “imperative” to add in variety that may resonate more with different groups of people.
Marco Canvas takes opportunities on a project-by-project basis. Some of these efforts have included outfitting city hall with door awnings, making water monitor covers for fire boats, providing an awning for the daycare entrance at St. Mark’s Church and bleacher shading for the Florida Gulf Coast University.
This work hasn’t only helped his community, says Skrzynski. It has led to positive press, recognition for the company and recommendations on local social media. But most important, it has allowed Marco Canvas to provide help to those who are helping others, he adds, giving him and his employees an opportunity to lead by example.
Remembering why
TVF’s charitable activities have provided employees with the chance to connect outside of their daily work routines, fostering greater cross-department collaboration, says Rossi. She also believes establishing programs, like TVF has done over the years with its Social Impact Pillar and other initiatives, can mitigate some of the labor challenges facing the textile industry by attracting the attention of people who may become interested in working for a company.
Fezer says the company’s community involvement is having a positive impact, directly and indirectly, on the workforce gap.
“By supporting local organizations and creating opportunities for individuals in need, we’re helping to equip them with skills and resources that can contribute to the workforce,” he says. “Our efforts are about more than just giving; they’re about creating lasting change and empowering individuals to succeed, which ultimately benefits the entire industry.
“Getting engaged with and supporting your community is a must-do for any business owner,” Fezer continues. “The level of fulfillment you experience from giving back will always outweigh any measure of business success. It’s not just about donations—it’s about adopting a mindset of service, putting others before yourself and embracing the culture of giving.”
Pamela Mills-Senn is a Seal Beach, Calif.-based freelance writer.
SIDEBAR: Is it right for you?
With so many opportunities for giving, narrowing down options and finding the best fit for your company and its employees can prove challenging, but limited time and resources make this effort imperative.
Jennie Rossi, sales forecasting and planning manager for TVF in Carmel, Ind., suggests connecting with similar-sized companies involved in supporting their communities to see what they’ve been able to manage. She also recommends business owners consider the following:
- If they themselves want to take time out of the workday to participate in the activities
- If team building is also an objective
- If the company can financially support the activity and to what extent
Remember that between work, personal/family obligations and their own volunteer activities, employees are possibly overcommitted, Rossi adds. As such, it’s important to be respectful of their time, taking this into consideration before committing to an organization or charitable activity.
Edward Skrzynski Jr., managing member of Marco Canvas & Upholstery LLC in Marco Island, Fla., recommends connecting with a local church or attending city council meetings to identify giving-back opportunities. He also advises restraint.
“You need to know how to say ‘no’ to something that isn’t a good fit,” he says. “You cannot do it all for everyone. So make certain that what you pick to help, you can do completely.”