Not only did we get the big $1,000 cash prize, but Extreme Ice decided to match that donation AND sell the heart decorations they used on the tree to raise extra money for us. That brings the grand donation total to $2,500! WOW! Thanks to this generosity, 100 local families in need will receive a week's worth of groceries -- that's everything from nonperishable staples like soup and peanut butter, to fresh produce, meat and bread.
Thanks Extreme Ice & THE SALES OFFICE!
Here's what K.C. Harrill, Extreme Ice Marketing & Public Relations Director, had to say at the check presentation last week:
At
the beginning of November, Sandra, a representative of THE SALES
OFFICE, Inc. representing 10 hotels, came to Extreme Ice Center with
their Christmas gift, a big white umbrella and a challenge. The
challenge was what they called #1000reasonstogive. The
#1000reasonstogive campaign asked participants to create Christmas
displays representing a local non-profit of their choice. Instantly,
I knew what charity I thought we should represent, but since this was
going to be a joint effort of Extreme Ice Center, I wanted to make
sure everyone was on the same page. I asked our manager, Maureen
Mulhall, and before I had even finished explaining the contest, she
said COMMON HEART with enough enthusiasm that could be heard
throughout our lobby. With that being said, we were definitely
all on the same page and then vowed that if we won, our earnings
would go to them. Fast forward a few weeks and we still had not
created our display as nothing we came up had seemed efficient to
adequately represent the important impact Common Heart has had on our
community. Cue the always reliable, IKEA. On a shopping trip, Moe
found pillow hearts with Velcro hands in two different sizes. This
was it. This was the representation we were looking for: hearts
connected by outreaching hands. With help from our Junior Hockey
Team, the Charlotte Rush, Extreme Ice Center customers, and staff,
our garland of hearts came together and our display took form. On the
day of our “photoshoot,” we had two special guests, one of our
“rink babies,” Lilly, and a sweet puppy belonging to a skating
family that happened to be visiting us that day. These two guests
brought our display together by representing everyone that can
benefit through the outreach of Common Heart.
After
sizing up our competition on THE SALES OFFICE, Inc Facebook page, we
knew it was going to be a very tight match. The next day, Moe and
Tess were caught very off guard by THE SALES OFFICE, Inc. team
representing who surprised us with the $1,000 cash grand prize of the
#1000reasonstogive campaign voted on by DJ Stout Operations
Manager/Program Director at WSOC/WFNZ. The immediate emotions of
shock, excitement, and gratitude were very overwhelming for all of
us, as we knew how much this contribution would benefit Common Heart.
Common
Heart has a very clear vision: encouraging a small revolution of
kindness. They do this through their many branches: Common Cupboard
(a food pantry), Common Thrift (a thrift store), TheCommonplace (a
community center), and ServingU (a university for kindness). Their
incredible staff works around the clock to make sure everyone has
what they need day in and day out. If you look on their Facebook
page, you will see a slew of praise and gratitude from the families
they support. For what they do for our community, we are incredibly
thankful… which is why as a business, we have decided to double our
winnings from #1000reasonstogive as well as donate all sales from the
pillow hearts that once decorated our display. This evening, Common
Heart will receive $2,500, which we have learned, will feed over 80
families this holiday season.
We
would like to thank THE SALES OFFICE, Inc. and its portfolio of
hotels Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hotels Matthews, Holiday Inn
Express & Suites Kannapolis, Four Points by Sheraton Charlotte
Pineville, Four Points by Sheraton Raleigh Durham Airport, Wingate by
Wyndham Charlotte Airport I85-I485, Comfort Inn & Suites
Kannapolis, Comfort Inn Lincolnton, Quality Inn & Suites
Matthews, Quality Inn Fort Mill and Best Western Gastonia. for
putting us up to this challenge, the representatives of Indian Trail
for their support tonight, and Common Heart for their determination
and passion for serving our community.
www.xicenter.com
– #1000reasontogive $1000.oo winner/contributor
www.THE-SALESOFFICE.com
– hotels sales team
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