RETAILOBSERVER.COM FEBRUARY 2015
60
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hristmas is a time for giving. And BrandSource
executives did just that this past holiday season as
they built and donated two dozen brand new bicycles
for Phoenix-area children's charities including the Boys &
Girls Club, Ronald McDonald House and The Salvation Army.
During the annual BrandSource executive leadership
conference at the Arizona Grand Resort, nearly 200
participants consisting of members, staff and vendors broke
up into groups and assembled the bicycles as part of a team-
building exercise.
Each team had to complete a series of challenges to 'earn'
the bike components, such as moving objects without the
use of hands or being the first team to answer a series of
trivia questions.
"It wasn't a contest to see who could build the bike the
fastest," said Bob Lawrence, former BrandSource CEO, who
spearheaded the campaign. "It was a great team-building
exercise and one of the best exercises I've ever witnessed.
We're also making a meaningful impact on the lives of
underprivileged kids. It's a great way to celebrate the holidays
and cap off the year."
In the spirit of the holiday season, the bicycles were
decorated with streamers, ribbons and cards, and the top
three creations won prizes. The bikes were delivered to their
new owners fully-assembled and decorated and included a
helmet and protective gear.
A representative from The Salvation Army in Phoenix
addressed the group, thanked them for their efforts and talked
about what it means to the recipients, many of whom have
never had the opportunity to ride a bicycle, let alone own one.
In addition to BrandSource, event sponsors included Serta,
Tempur Sealy, Ashley Furniture, Electrolux, Whirlpool, GE
and LG.
"At the end of the day, everybody walked away really
appreciating the experience," said Lawrence. "As a team, we
created a pathway to help at-risk kids have a better life, and
that means a lot."
RO
B U Y I N G G R O U P N E W S
BRANDSOURCE BUILDS BICYCLES
FOR PHOENIX-AREA CHILDREN'S CHARITIES
Two Dozen Bicycles Donated to Boys & Girls Club,
Ronald McDonald House and Salvation Army