APHW Raises $48.3K for Relay for Life

America's Preferred Home Warranty Relay for Life 2020America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) closed out the 2019/2020 Relay for Life fundraising year this week with a total of $48,379.19 raised, placing first out of 53 Jackson County, Michigan teams. And APHW’s fundraising team captain started out the year nervous to take on the challenge.

Commitment

“Our company takes Relay for Life fundraising seriously,” said Team Captain Hannah Robbins. “So I was a little nervous—I wanted to do a good job. But I was also mostly excited because my family has been affected by cancer, and captaining the team was a nice way to show I care.”

She did better than good. Hannah and APHW’s fundraising committee developed regular events that the whole company enjoyed. “We had lots of events when we were in the office—raffles, food events, and more—and we had a virtual Bingo night after COVID-19 hit too. Our committee was incredible at every turn.”

Leadership

The support from APHW leadership really helps the numbers as well, Hannah said. “They’re always willing for us to try new fundraising events, even when it involves embarrassing them,” she joked, adding how the leadership pie-in-the-face fundraiser raised over $200. “This year has really shown that they’re all in, as long as it’s going toward the cause.”

Giving

Individual staff donations built more than $13,000 of the overall total, with the last $35,000 sponsored by the company itself. “Karaoke night was one of our highest fundraising events, and I really enjoyed Taco Tuesday,” Hannah said. “I feel like these events are a real value to our company, too—we all come together like the family we are, and everyone has a really good time.”

Hannah was also touched by how the giving continued even after COVID-19 hit. “It’s really nice to know that even when we’re struggling, the people we work for and the staff are all willing to give what they can,” she said. “And APHW will continue to raise money for Relay for Life in the future.”

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America's Preferred Home Warranty, USA Today, Charity

APHW Featured in USA Today Special Edition: America Responds

America's Preferred Home Warranty, USA Today, CharityAPHW is honored to be featured in USA Today for our commitment to giving back to those in need, especially during these uncertain times.

To learn about our mission to help local charities and communities, check out page 57 of the USA Today article here.

For more info or to get involved, visit APHW.com/charity—Together we can make a difference!

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America's Preferred Home Warranty Donation Leads to Child and Family Charities Gift Cards

Plans Change, But CFC Still Finds a Way to Recognize Foster Families

America's Preferred Home Warranty Donation Leads to Child and Family Charities Gift CardsEvery year, Child and Family Charities (CFC) of mid-Michigan finds a way to recognize and thank their foster families. This year, between mass closures and social distancing, they needed a new way to do that—and America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) stepped up.

“APHW sponsors our event with a Lansing Lugnuts game every year, so foster families can come enjoy a meal and we can thank them, but we couldn’t do that this year,” said CFC CEO Julie Thomasma. “So we were talking about another way to recognize the families.”

During this difficult time, foster families are facing additional challenges between home schooling and earning issues, among other things. “So we used the money to purchase Meijer gift cards, and worked with APHW to develop postcards with a message of thanks,” Julie said.

The gifts are going out to about 60 foster families in mid-Michigan this week, and Julie is thrilled that CFC is able to do so through APHW’s sponsorship. “These have been unique times for our families, and they will appreciate being seen and recognized in this way,” she said. “There are a lot of unsung heroes in the background—social workers, foster families, and the people who keep working for these kids. We appreciate you all, and God bless!”

Visit ChildandFamily.org today to learn more about this amazing organization!

For more information about America’s Preferred Home Warranty, visit APHW.COM or call 888.351.3681 today.

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America's Preferred Home Warranty Donates to Flood Relief

Doubling Down on Giving Back — And Then Some

America's Preferred Home Warranty Donates to Flood ReliefA couple days ago we shared a video and information regarding America’s Preferred Home Warranty’s (APHW) contributions to the Keller Williams (KW) Premier Real Estate flood relief efforts in Midland, Michigan. Here is the rest of that story—including doubling down with an additional $100,000 donation to the charity organization Samaritan’s Purse.

Two Cultures, One Purpose

APHW and KW have a longstanding relationship that’s beyond just being business partners; they also have similar values. “Their culture very much mirrors our own in giving back to those in need,” said APHW Area Sales Manager Brian Heath. “So when they asked us to get involved with their project in Midland, it just made sense.”

KW initially asked APHW to sponsor a breakfast for the KW volunteers on Thursday, June 4th. But APHW President and Owner Randy Caltrider felt moved to do more.

“He wanted to do something on a larger scale,” Brian said. “God put it on Randy’s heart to help the KW relief efforts with a donation of $25,000 on top of the sponsored breakfast, and we also had several staff members volunteer to help that day.”

But Randy Wasn’t Done

After some research, he donated $100,000 to Samaritan’s Purse as well. “They’re just phenomenal,” Randy said. “They were the first ones on the ground in Italy when COVID-19 hit, and then they went to New York and set up a complete tent hospital in Central Park. The unselfish things they do all over the world brings tears to my eyes, and they’re in Midland right now.”

Between APHW doubling down, KW’s efforts, Samaritan’s Purse, and a LOT of other volunteers, Midland will soon become home again to its residents. “For me it was just a small thing of giving of my time and energy,” Brian said. “But for the families we helped, it was the world.”

Visit SamaritansPurse.org for more information about the charity, or to donate to their cause.

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America's Preferred Home Warranty, Midland, Michigan, Flood Relief, KW

KW & APHW Partner in Offering Flood Relief for Midland, MI


Keller Williams (KW) Premier Real Estate coordinated a flood relief effort in the Midland area, after heavy rains on May 19 caused two dams to fail in Michigan. The flooding forced about 10,000 people to evacuate their homes and caused nearly $20 million in damages to Midland, Gladwin, and Saginaw counties.

KW invited America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) to sponsor a breakfast for their volunteers. APHW was honored to help, and took things a few steps further, including additional volunteers and a check for $25,000 toward the effort, as well as a letter with the following statement:

“APHW has grown exponentially over the last several years, built upon the cornerstone of Luke 12:48 of the Bible: ‘To whom much is given, much will be required.’ … In giving the glory back to God, we want to give back to you … We pray that these funds and volunteers help in your efforts to bring Midland, Michigan back to the place so many people call home. You are doing the work of God. May He Bless you and give you strength as you continue your efforts.”

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America's Preferred Home Warranty, Child and Family Charities Partnership, Home Warranties

APHW Partnership with CFC Boosts Efforts During COVID-19

America's Preferred Home Warranty, Child and Family Charities Partnership, Home WarrantiesChild and Family Charities (CFC) and America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) have a relationship going back nearly a decade. The nonprofit has grown considerably over the years, and APHW has not only kept donating, but repeatedly increased donations, fundraisers, and volunteers. These increases have made a huge impact on CFC’s reach among mid-Michigan children, youth and families—particularly during COVID-19.

“APHW has helped us become a stronger organization,” said CFC CEO Julie Thomasma. “And because of their help, we felt better about going into this situation, being better able to offer support and increase our services where they are needed most,” she said.

Child and Family Charities assists mid-Michigan youth and families through 25 programs across 6 divisions. They have focused extra efforts around providing food assistance, childcare, shelter, and mental health services during COVID-19, Julie described, because so many more families need them these days, and so much more.

APHW’s support also helped CFC to keep their entire staff during COVID-19, and even expand it. “We’ve actually hired additional coaches to meet the need,” she said. “And we’ve been doing even more work because that need is so great. We’re in a really great position because of APHW.”

“The support from [APHW President and Owner] Randy Caltrider and APHW gives us that spark of hope to continue working with the populations and families we serve,” said CFC Director of Development Demphna Krikorian. “We’re seeing the increasing needs, and we’ll see more tomorrow and onward until we get through this. And we really couldn’t do it without that spark, that hope, that APHW gives us.”

Want to help? Visit ChildAndFamily.org or call 517.882.4000 for more information.

Luke 12:48 – “To whom much is given, much will be required.”

America's Preferred Home Warranty and Child and Family Charities, Home Warranty, Home Warranties

Child and Family Charities and APHW Working Together During COVID Lockdowns


We couldn’t be more proud to help Child and Family Charities (CFC – https://bit.ly/2LsBmGh), an incredible non-profit serving children, youth and families in Mid-Michigan, especially now as their services are even more needed. Beyond donations, our company fundraisers for CFC also help to build up our teams and share the message of the charity.

Want to help? Click here: https://bit.ly/2YTqV6N

(Special shoutout to UnoDeuce Multimedia for producing this video!)

Interested in a home warranty? Call 888.351.3681 or visit APHW.COM today for more information!

APHW Sponsors 2 Teams for the JA of the Michigan Edge Crazy Bowl

APHW Sponsors 2 Teams for JA ‘Crazy Bowl’ 2019

APHW Sponsors 2 Teams for the JA of the Michigan Edge Crazy BowlAmerica’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) proudly sponsored two bowling teams for the Junior Achievement (JA) of the Michigan Edge ‘Crazy Bowl’ held Saturday, Nov. 9 at Hillside Lanes in Hillsdale, Michigan. JA received 25 team sponsorships in total (including 10 youth teams).

In between bowling with their feet, spinning in circles, and skipping hand in hand, individual participants also contributed through personal donations as well as purchases of 50/50 and prize drawing tickets. Altogether, JA raised more than $9,000 through the event, which goes toward JA youth programs.

“We had an awesome time on Saturday,” said JA of the Michigan Edge President Connie Poisson. “And I thank APHW for pulling together their teams and sharing in the fun!”

APHW Volunteers at Michigan Fall Special Olympics 2019

APHW Staff Volunteer at Michigan Special Olympics 2019 Fall Games

America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) employees volunteered again this year at the Michigan Special Olympics Fall Games September 20 – 22, assisting in a variety of ways for the 2019 events.

Patty took part in the cycling event, discovering upon arrival that her own cousin was competing! She got to escort him to the starting line for both of his races, and states she would definitely do it again next year. “It’s an amazing feeling to be a part of something like this, to watch the excitement on the participants’ faces, and see the true meaning of sportsmanship,” she said.

Assisting in flag football, Toney watched a new girl on the team discover what it’s like to score. “She hadn’t played before and at first looked confused on which way to go,” she said. “They handed her the football and told her to run, and the other team followed behind her and let her make the touchdown—her first ever. It was one of the best moments I have seen in a long time.”

“My favorite part was just being involved in the games and talking with the participants,” said David, who also assisted with the flag football event. “Our world is so self-centered sometimes, and it’s good to just think about others for a while—it’s a rewarding experience.”

“I acted as a ball retriever and delivered water to each team in the softball event,” said Taylor. “Seeing the joy and gratitude on the players’ faces was so fulfilling, and it was rewarding to see the excitement as teammates watched others hit the ball or make it to the next base.”

Toney really enjoyed interacting with the players, and strongly encourages others to consider volunteering next time. “The players are competitive, but they also cheer for each other no matter what team they’re on. It’s an amazing experience,” she said. “And they really need you.”

“Giving back and doing for others is what God wants us to do,” said Sherry, who also assisted in the cycling event. “It made me feel so good inside to be able to help and interact with them. It’s the best feeling in the world, and all I can say is go and help volunteer; you’ll be glad you did.”

With more than 1,600 athletes competing in the games, every volunteer makes a difference. APHW would like to thank Taylor, Alicia, Toney, Patty, David, Sherry and Brittany for volunteering their free time toward this event, as well as Donna for leading the volunteer effort. We are so proud to have each of you on our team!

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