Heartline Newsletter — Fall-Winter 2014

FA L L / W I N T E R I s s u e 2 0 1 4
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Back(pack) to School Events at Facilities Across the U.S. Help
Kids Start the School Year Prepared and Ready to Learn
This August and September, 27 GSF and QCD
facilities held over 100 Back(pack) to School
drop-off events throughout the country.
More than 13,000 backpacks filled with
essential school supplies were distributed
to deserving first-grade students.
The program provides first-grade
students with a backpack filled with
school supplies, such as pencils,
notebooks, erasers, and
crayons, so children in need can start
the school year on the right foot and
Students from Oakbrook, Ill.
show off the contents of their backpacks.
prepared to learn. Each year, administrators and
educators select which children are eligible to
receive assistance through the Back(pack) to
School program.
“For many children and families,
backpacks and school supplies are simply
not affordable purchases,” said Chuck
Browne, Executive Director of the GSF
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IT’s First Golf Tournament to Benefit GSFF Exceeds
Fundraising Goals, Supports Kids in Need
Golf enthusiasts hit the green on October 2 in IT’s first-ever
Foundation Golf Tournament, held at the Pacific Palms Resort
in the City of Industry. More than 30 sponsors supported the
event, and IT raised more than $50,000 for the GSFF – four
times their original goal!
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Sumner Associates Support Local Food Banks
Wolinsky, Chief Information Officer at GSF. “While having
fun was one of our goals, more importantly to the GSF IT
Team and our IT vendors was the good works that could
be accomplished with the money we were able to raise. We
never want to forget how privileged we are and how part
G SFF GOLF TOURNAMEN T
Sumner associates volunteer at the Emergency Food Network. Left to Right: Chad Hopkins [IT Support Specialist]; Elaine Thompson [Customer Service/
Managed Supply Chain Manager]; Jerry Smith [Transportation Manager]; John Gelmini [Assistant General Manager]; Laura Kniss [Customer Service Field Rep
and GSFF Sumner Chairperson]; Bob Schneider [Operations Supervisor]; Susan Hart [friend of GSFF]; Donna Tietjens [Senior Administrative Assistant]; Leon
Dorscher [Operations Supervisor]; and Cindy Nelson [wife of Administrative Manager Don Nelson]. (Photo Credit: Christina Garner)
On November 6, 11 GSF associates from the Sumner, Wash.,
facility volunteered both their time and their muscle to pack an
impressive 6,450 pounds of rice to be distributed to local area
food banks.
Associates from the Sumner facility volunteer quarterly
with the Emergency Food Network, and have been working
with them for several years. The Emergency Food Network
in Lakewood, Wash., provides Pierce County, Wash. with a
consistent, diverse and nutritious food supply so that no person
goes hungry. The organization serves as a central storage and
distribution center for emergency food programs.
Chuck Browne [Executive Director, GSFF] and Bill Sanderson [CFO
and Senior Vice President] enjoy the reception banquet after a day
of golfing benefiting the GSFF.
Sponsors included SIGMAnet, CSC, Oracle, and Quinnox,
among other IT vendors, and 72 golfers participated in the
event.
“We cannot thank our sponsors enough for their
tremendous support for our Foundation,” said Ken
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John Osborn [Sponsor, Innotas], Ken Wolinsky [GSF Chief
Information Officer], Sean Murray [Sponsor, IBM], compare notes
on their game at the IT Foundation Golf Tournament reception
banquet at the Pacific Palms Resort.
of the responsibility that comes along with privilege is the
obligation to provide a helping hand to those who just need
a small boost to get back on their feet. Everyone is looking
forward to next year’s tournament.”
Golfers enjoyed a hearty breakfast and warm up at the
continued on page 9
“Our associate volunteers deserve a round of applause for their
hard work and effort to help fight hunger in our region,” said
John Gelmini, Assistant General Manager of the Sumner DC.
“Supporting an organization like the Emergency Food Network
aligns well with our Creed and Values as a company, specifically
of ‘treating others the way you want to be treated,’ and we’re
proud to have worked consistently with them for the past
several years.”
Thanks to the following associates for volunteering their time
for a very good cause:
• Leon Dorscher [Operations Supervisor]
•C
hristina Garner [Senior Accounting Clerk Payables, Sumner
and Portland, and GSFF Sumner Communications Chair]
• John Gelmini [Assistant General Manager]
• Chad Hopkins [IT Support Specialist]
• L aura Kniss [Customer Service Field Rep and GSFF Sumner
Chairperson]
• Cindy Nelson [wife of Administrative Manager Don Nelson]
• Bob Schneider [Operations Supervisor]
• Jerry Smith [Transportation Manager]
• E laine Thompson [Customer Service/Managed Supply Chain
Manager]
• Donna Tietjens [Senior Administrative Assistant]
• Susan Hart [friend of GSFF].
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle
or the mirror that reflects it. – Edith Wharton
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Phoenix Rising Music Studio Opens Doors
with Support from GSFF
In November, the GSF Foundation had the honor of
supporting the dedication ceremony for the Phoenix Rising
Music Studio at Phoenix House Academy Orange County, in
Santa Ana. The Phoenix House is a national agency whose
mission is to help children and adults combat drug and
alcohol addiction through a residential treatment program.
GSFF currently supports the organization’s youth program in
Santa Ana.
The Phoenix Rising
Music Program,
created by singersongwriter, record
producer and
former “American
Idol” judge, Kara
DioGuardi with
the help of many
musicians and
music companies,
is an expressive
arts therapy
program that
encourages
clients enrolled in
Phoenix House’s
residential
substance
abuse treatment
programs
to express
themselves
through music.
Participation in the creative arts has been proven to increase
self-esteem, reduce anxiety and depression, and aid the
recovery process for people who struggle with substance
abuse and/or co-occurring mental health problems. The
program engages clients in the treatment process and
gives them an effective way to gain a deeper sense of selfunderstanding as they write, perform, and record
powerful songs of struggle and recovery.
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“We were introduced to Phoenix House’s good work through
actress and music recording artist Becky Baeling Lythgoe,
who was our headliner several years ago at our Good News
for Kids Gala,” explained Bill Sanderson, Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer at GSF. “Becky is involved with
the Phoenix House through her good friend, Kara. We were
thrilled to be able to support this very worthwhile cause and
to spread the message of how important these programs
are. Perhaps we’ll
see the next
American Idol
come from the
Phoenix Rising
Music Program.”
GSF Foundation will soon be on Facebook!
The GSF Foundation is soon to be the newest member of
Facebook. GSF recognizes the influence and importance
of social media channels as well as the opportunities they
present, when resourced properly, to promote the company
and its values, including the GSF Foundation.
The GSF Foundation Facebook page will keep followers
informed of Foundation events, news and developments.
GSF encourages all associates to engage with the Facebook
page by commenting, liking and sharing information from
the page.
“This will be the only consumer-facing social media platform
that GSF will engage in, at least at the moment,” said Shellie
Frey, Group Vice President of Corporate Communications.
“We believe that Facebook is a great channel to promote
the amazing work of our Foundation and to get people
involved.”
The GSF Facebook page is a great complement to the
recently launched GSF Foundation website—www.
gsffoundation.org. The Facebook page will be officially
launched in early 2014.
For more
information about
the Phoenix Rising
Music Program,
visit here.
http://www.phoenixhouse.
org/news-and-views/
news-and-events/phoenixhouse-orange-countyopens-new-music-studio/
Top left photo: (from
left to right): Becky
Baeling Lythgoe,
actress and music
recording artist, GSF’s
Bill Sanderson, Senior
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
and Kara DioGuardi,
creator of the Phoenix
Rising Music Program
at the dedication of the
Phoenix Rising Music
Studio in Santa Ana on
November 4, 2013.
Bottom left photo:
(from left to right): Bill
Sanderson, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at GSF, John
Morabito, Director of Music Programs at Phoenix House, Kara DioGuardi,
creator of the Phoenix Rising Music Program, Joe Lamond, President of the
NAMM Foundation, and Pouria Abbassi, Senior Vice President and California
Regional Director of Phoenix House at the dedication of the Phoenix Rising
Music Studio in Santa Ana on November 4, 2013.
Top right photo: GSFF supported the dedication of the Phoenix Rising Music
Studio in Santa Ana on November 4, 2013.
Bottom right photo: (from left to right): GSF’s Bill Sanderson, Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer, and Pouria Abbassi, Senior Vice President
and California Regional Director of Phoenix House at the dedication of the
Phoenix Rising Music Studio in Santa Ana on November 4, 2013.
“ We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”
– Ronald Reagan
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QCD – Suffolk Distributes Shoes and Cold Weather Gear
to Local Kids in Need During Holidays
This December, associates from the QCD – Suffolk GSFF
committee hosted four events at local schools to deliver new
pairs of shoes, socks, warm coats and hats and gloves to local
elementary school children in need.
More than 200 pairs of shoes and socks,
96 coats and 96 sets of hats and gloves
were provided to more than 200 children
from the following area schools: P.W.
Moore Elementary, Elizabeth City, NC
(12/10); Hillpoint Elementary, Suffolk,
Va. (12/16); S.P. Morton Elementary,
Franklin, Va. (12/17); and Elephant’s
Fork Elementary, Suffolk, Va. (12/18).
The new pairs of shoes and coats
are distributed through GSFF’s
Best Foot Forward and Coats for Kids
programs. The shoes that are given are preselected to ensure they fit the recipients, and matched with
a pair of socks and wrapped as a holiday gift for the children
to open. In some cases, this may be the only gift the recipient
will open this year. The sets of hats and gloves are collected
throughout the year at various fundraising events held by
Local elementary school students show off their new shoes, courtesy of
QCD – Suffolk GSFF associates through the Best Foot Forward program.
Students also received socks, warm coats, hats and gloves to keep them
warm throughout the colder months. More than 200 pairs of shoes and
socks were donated to four area schools as a result of the generous
donations to the program.
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QCD – Suffolk associates, including its Meals for Mittens event
which took place in March.
“Winter is an especially difficult
season for families experiencing
financial hardship,” said Jerry Wilson
[Operations Manager]. “Without
the generous donations of our
associates and partners through
these programs, these children would
not have the means to purchase
much-needed items to help them stay
warm and participate in school-based
physical education programs and
extracurricular activities. Our goal
for 2014 is to spread our reach into
more of the areas where our associates
live and work so that we can further support
children and families in need.”
Special thanks to Natasha Baird [Operations Clerk], Darlene
Wilson, [National Support Services Manager], Jerry Wilson
[Operations Manager] and Danny Register [Transportation
Manager] for organizing this very successful event!
Hearts, Hands and Hope – 2014 Associate Campaign
Achieves Outstanding Results
As the GSF Foundation moves into its twelfth year, associates
throughout the U.S. gave from their hearts, served with
their hands and provided hope to those in need by actively
participating in their annual campaign.
As associates at
each of the 26 local
committees reached
out to support the
less fortunate through
this annual effort,
collectively, they raised
more than $700,000,
which is in line with
what the campaigns
raised in recent
years. Additionally, 15
facilities achieved at
least 80% participation,
with Oak Brook, St.
Louis (CLC), Miami and
Las Vegas attaining
100% participation.
These locations, along
with a number of other
locations, increased
their annual donations
from last year, including
Conyers, CIM, Irvine,
Portland, Sumner,
Waipahu, Portland
(QCD), Seattle (QCD),
and Puyallup.
“I’m very proud of
what our associates
have accomplished during this year’s campaign,” said Joe
Heffington, 2014 Campaign Chair and GSF’s Corporate
Vice President and Vice President of Finance, who inspired
associates to participate in the “hearts, hands and hope”
campaign. “When we combine our heart’s desire to do
good with our active hands, we create hope for those less
fortunate. And that’s exactly what our associates achieved
this year through this campaign.”
Since 2002, the GSF Foundation has raised more than $25
million to help hundreds of thousands of children in need
through more than 550
children’s charities and
elementary schools that
serve at-risk children.
In 2013 alone, the
Foundation provided
more than 60,000
school kids with new
backpacks and school
supplies, 3,000 pairs
of new shoes and
1,000 new bikes. GSF
Foundation volunteers
served more than 100
Ronald House meals
and provided more
than 8,000 nights of
RMHC housing for
families in need. They
donated more than
120,000 pounds of food
to local food banks
and soup kitchens.
Throughout the year,
GSF Foundation
volunteers have
donated more than
125,000 total service
hours in service to
others.
Thanks to all participating associates for sharing your
generous hearts, hands and hope with those in need.
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Back(pack) to School CONTINUED from page 1
Golf Tournament CONTINUED from page 2
G SFF GOLF TOURNAMEN T
golfing range to prepare them for a day on the challenging
Zaharias course. Several contests and games added to the
fun, including a putting contest, a longest drive contest,
best team score and a raffle for a custom World Champion
Krank Driver, valued at $450. A reception banquet at St.
Andrews Station at the Resort rounded out the day, with
a presentation of awards by Bill Sanderson [GSF Senior
Vice President and CFO] and remarks by Ken, thanking
participants and sponsors.
Foundation. “The GSF Foundation believes that every
child deserves to begin their academic
career with the tools necessary to become an engaged
and successful student, and we hope to be able to
contribute to that effort with our Back(pack) to School
events.”
Since 2007, the GSF Foundation and the United
Stationers Charitable Foundation have partnered to
keep the program in effect. Each year, the support of
this partnership ensures that children begin the school
year with everything they need to have a successful
educational experience.
A special thanks goes to the lead organizers of the event:
Joanna D’Argenzio [IT Senior Executive Assistant] and Daisy
Ramos [IT Senior Operations Administrator] who helped
make the event a success.
Thanks to all the GSF and QCD facilities for participating
in this very important event!
And volunteers:
• Laura Cross [IT vendor MEWA)
• Susana Tamayo [IT Project Manager]
• Patricia Vincent [IT WMS Technical Writer]
• Renee Uribe [IT Client Services Manager]
• Helen Smith [IT Technical Lead]
• David Sween [IT Business Consultant]
• Bill Runyan [IT Business Services Manager]
• John Nowitsch [IT Project Manager]
Above: First-grade students from Oakbrook, Ill. enjoy their new backpacks.
Left: Students from schools in the Portland, Ore. area express their thanks in
a card signed to GSFF Associates.
IT Foundation Golf Tournament volunteers: TOP ROW: (left to right) Daisy
Ramos [IT Senior Operations Administrator], Joanna D’Argenzio [IT Senior
Executive Assistant], Laura Cross [IT vendor MEWA], Susana Tamayo [IT
Project Manager]. BOTTOM ROW (left to right): Patricia Vincent [IT WMS
Technical Writer], Renee Uribe [IT Client Services Manager], Helen Smith [IT
Technical Lead].
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even
touched - they must be felt with the heart. – Helen Keller
Below: Backpacks are ready to be packed full of school supplies at CIM, Calif.
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LETT
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FA L L / W I N T E R I s s u e 2 0 1 4
JANUARY
1
1
1
1
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Suffolk – Foundation Vending Machine
Project (Ongoing)
Sumner – Blood Drive (Date TBD)
Sumner – Emergency Food Network (Quarterly)
Sumner – Highway Clean Up (Quarterly)
IT – Best Foot Forward
Suffolk – 2nd Annual Meals for Mittens
APRIL
1
1
1
1
1
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CID – Best Foot Forward (Date TBD)
CID – Camp Ronald McDonald Spring Clean Up (Date TBD)
CID – Smoothie/Bake Sale (Date TBD)
Sumner – Emergency Food Network (Quarterly)
Sumner – Highway Clean Up (Quarterly)
CID/CIM/IT/Irvine – RMHC Walk for Kids
MAY
FEBRUARY
1
1
1
14
15
Sumner – Best Foot Forward (Date TBD)
Sumner – RMHC Dinner (Quarterly)
Sumner – Tree House Dinner (Quarterly)
CID – Valentine Fundraiser
CID – RMHC Pasadena Dinner
JUNE
MARCH
1
1
1
8
1 CID – Best Foot Forward (Date TBD)
1
Sumner – Mother’s Day Flower Fundraiser (Date TBD)
1 Sumner – RMHC Dinner (Quarterly)
1 Sumner – Tree House Dinner (Quarterly)
17 National Event – Build-A-Bike
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CID – RMHC So Cal Golf Tournament
CID – Best Foot Forward (Date TBD)
CID – RMHC Loma Linda Dinner (Date TBD)
Sumner – VIP Parking Fundraiser (Quarterly)
Whitewater – Bowling Fundraiser
1
1
1
16
27
CID – Bowling Fundraiser (Date TBD)
Sumner – Blood Drive (Date TBD)
Sumner – VIP Parking Fundraiser (Quarterly)
Suffolk – Bake Sale
CID – Jeans Day
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Board of Directors
Steve Becker, Jim Brooks, Chuck Browne, Neil Cracknell, Pete Del Giorno, Shellie Frey, Lisa Gottlieb, Mickey Hamer, Frank Listi, Joe Michel, Wayne Morgan, John Murphy, John Page, Bill Pocilujko, Larry Rose, Bill Sanderson,
Ali Seyedi, Gregg Tarlton, Scott Thomas, Daniel Van Hoozer, Mike Waitukaitis, Mark Wetterau
Chairman of the Board: Mark Wetterau Executive Director: Chuck Browne Executive Committee Representative East: Jim Brooks West: Jeff Steiner
CITY OF INDUSTRY – DISTRIBUTION, CA
LEMONT, IL
QCD LOS ANGELES
Chair: Griselda Hernandez
Assistant Chair: Luana Garcia
Treasurer: Linda Ray
Secretary: Ana Vargas
Communications Chair: Annabelle Alba
Chair: Nancy Shepherd
Assistant Chair: Mary Kay Gustafson
Treasurer: Scott Harriett
Communications Chair: Jennifer Bailey
Chair: Jason DePina
Assistant Chair: Claudia Fernandez
Treasurer: Azzie Carr; Secretary: Natalie Guzman
Communications Chair: Yvette Silvestre
CITY OF INDUSTRY – MANUFACTURING, CA
LEXINGTON, SC
Chair: Cathlyn Baris
Assistant Chair: Brett Holland
Treasurer: William Brown
Secretary: Jenny Black
Communications Chair: Jamie Hudson
QCD MIAMI
Chair: Becky Kruger
Assistant Chair: Kevin Casto
Treasurer: Belinda Salazar
Secretary: Sylvia Barraza
Communications Chair: Belinda Salazar
CONYERS, GA
OAK BROOK, IL
Chair: Kim Parris
Vice Chair: Opal Baker
Treasurer: Debera Stewart
Secretary: Joni Smith
Communications Chair: Peta Wiggan
Chair: Laurie Malloy
Assistant Chair: Charlie Stone
Treasurer: Cindy Barr; Secretary: Laurie Malloy
Communications Chair: Jennifer Morgan
GARNER, NC
Chair: Mary Hofstetter
Assistant Chair: Dan Chase
Treasurer: Mike Wilson
Communications Chair: Michelle Day
Chair: Gregg Tarlton
Assistant Chair: LaTina Martin
Treasurer: Jeff Spencer
Secretary: Floydricka Tanoh
Communications Chair: Bronna Greer
IRVINE, CA
Chair: Brian George
Assistant Chair: Mickey Hamer
Treasurer: Lisa Gottlieb; Secretary: Sandy Jones
Communications Chair: Kim Slick
IT
Chair: Joanna D’Argenzio
Assistant Chair: Daisy Ramos
Treasurer: Bill Runyan; Secretary: Helen Smith
Communications Chair: Allen Chen
Chair: Stephen Quant
Treasurer: Cesar Nogueira; Secretary: Luis Porto
QCD ORLANDO
Chair: Kevin McDade
Treasurer: Kris Kaswinkel
Secretary: Laurie Malik
Communications Chair: Becky Salmon
QCD PORTLAND
PHOENIX, AZ
Chair: Keith Scott
Assistant Chair: Sarah Hunt
Treasurer: Lindsay Henry
Secretary: Manuel Castellon
Communications Chair: Brad Hartel
PORTLAND, OR
Chair: Jim Broxon
Communications Chair: Natalie Powell
QCD CHARLOTTE
Chair: Rey Martinez
Assistant Chair: Eric Lard
Treasurer: Kim Kaster; Secretary: Lehua Dupont
Communications Chair: Corey Alfano
Chair: Leeca Waggener
Assistant Chair: Jennifer Severance
Treasurer: Mike Ehlers; Secretary: Le Trenholm
Communications Chair: Leeca Waggener
Chair: Anette Peterson
Assistant Chair: Kia Hunt
Secretary: Juliana Anglero
Communications Chair: Anette Peterson
QCD LAS VEGAS
Chair: Jerry Moore; Assistant Chair: Gema Lopez
Communications Chair: Faalili Togagae
QCD SAN ANTONIO
QCD SEATTLE
QCD SERVICE CTR.
Chair: Brande Bond
Assistant Chair: Cheri Prichard
Treasurer: Damon Spear
Secretary: Amanda Holman
Communications Chair: Kate James
QCD SPOKANE
Chair: Alexandra Myers
Treasurer: Will Hill
QCD SUFFOLK
Chair: Danny Register
Treasurer: Darlene Wilson
Secretary: Linda Armstrong
Communications Chair: Natasha Baird
ST. LOUIS, MO
Chair: Patrick Donnigan
Secretary: Kelly Murphy
ST. LOUIS CLC
Chair: Bill Pocilujko
Communications Chair: Lisa Maze
SUMNER, WA
Chair: Laura Kniss
Assistant Chair: Elaine Thompson
Treasurer: Don Nelson; Secretary: Kim Paulsen
Communications Chair: Christina Garner
WAIPAHU, HI
Chair: Amy McAngus
Assistant Chair: Amber Haviland
Treasurer: Caroline Ogata
Secretary: Jennifer Minke
Communications Chair: Amber Haviland
WHITEWATER, WI
Chair: Cheri Rennells
Assistant Chair: Heather Parish
Treasurer: Jeaneen Brokmeier
Secretary: Jenny Brawders,
Connie Hornickel
Communications Chair: Kayla Riedel
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Printed on recycled paper
Editor in Chief
Shellie Frey
Contributing Writers / Editors
Sandy Jones, Kim Slick, Jennifer Agnew and Paula Moggio (Porter Novelli)
Design
Synergy, Inc. • www.synergyinc.org
Golden State Foods Foundation
(877) GSF KIDS • www.gsffoundation.org • 18301 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1100, Irvine, California 92612
T H E H E A R T L I N E P R I N T I N G A N D D I S T R I B U T I O N C O S T S D O N AT E D B Y G O L D E N S TAT E F O O D S