The Garland Company, Inc., located in Cleveland\u2019s historic Union Miles neighborhood, is celebrating its 125th year in business by giving back in various ways, most recently to the community it calls home. Garland reached out to Miles Park School, an elementary school located just one street away from its corporate headquarters, to see how to best support the school\u2019s needs, especially as students navigate virtual learning and varying access to resources amid the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Garland employees then helped fill 125 backpacks with the necessary supplies for Miles Park\u2019s kindergarten through eighth grade students. From pencils and crayons for kindergarteners to calculators and pocket dictionaries for eighth graders, employees enjoyed lending a hand and seeing the difference these supplies could make in the lives of the local students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The students will be continuing online learning for the rest of the semester and will receive the backpacks, supplies and uniforms upon their return to the classroom. Miles Park principal Tamika Taylor-Ivory and assistant principal Christine Wade accepted the backpacks on the students\u2019 behalf with sentiments of gratitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven though we are in another nine weeks of remote learning, the students will definitely need the supplies. Based on social distancing and protocols that limit the students\u2019 use of lockers, these backpacks will be a great help when they return to the school. And of course, they will need the supplies of paper, pencils and everything else for all their studies. We are so appreciative of all the donations that will help our students here at Miles Park School,\u201d said Taylor-Ivory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Miles Park School follows a profound motto: \u201cLearners Today…Leaders Tomorrow.\u201d With these backpacks of new school supplies, Garland believes these driven and talented students will be better equipped to prioritize their schoolwork to become the leaders of tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Garland\u2019s focus throughout its 125th anniversary year has been the slogan \u201cEmployee Built, Employee Owned.\u201d A strong regard for ownership, cemented by Garland\u2019s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), is the cornerstone of Garland\u2019s success and a driving principle for these charitable initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis neighborhood has been our proud home for 125 years and it is such an honor to maintain our traditional values by continuing our long history of taking care of our communities. Even in these tough times, we are committed to finding new ways to give back and keep our neighbors and the great city of Cleveland thriving,\u201d said Garland president David Sokol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Garland\u2019s charitable initiatives will not end here. In continued celebration of 125 years, Garland donated $15,000 as an exclusive sponsor for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank weekly distribution event Nov. 12, employees have donated over $7,000 to their favorite charities, an employee\u2019s son was awarded a $12,500 scholarship for his college career, and additional initiatives are planned throughout the rest of this historic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n