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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Team APHW Final Total for Relay for Life

Final Team APHW Total

Team APHW Final Total for Relay for LifeCounting our corporate sponsorship, our final total as of Friday, August 2, 2019, came to a whopping $52,037.48 raised for Relay For Life of Jackson County, Michigan! As a company with less than 250 employees total, this number means the world to us. Times are changing and Relay is changing with it, and we’re looking forward to stepping up to the new challenges that await. See you next year Jackson!! #TeamAPHW #RelayForLife #ACS #ChallengeAccepted!!

We Did It! APHW Achieves Relay for Life Goal

We Did It! APHW Achieves 2019 Fundraising Goal

We Did It! APHW Achieves Relay for Life GoalTeam APHW officially met and surpassed their Relay for Life fundraising goal of $20,000 Wednesday! With more than a month to go before the main event, we’re excited to see what new heights we can achieve!

Relay for Life Team APHW members pictured left to right: VP of Operations Mike, Nicholle (Secretary), Cara (Captain), Hannah, Donna (Treasurer), Patty (Co-Captain), and VP of Accounting Terri.

Join our fight and visit the #APHW tent at the #RelayForLife of Jackson County event Friday, August 2nd and Saturday, August 3rd at Cascades Falls Park in Jackson, Michigan. You can also help the cause by making a donation here: https://lnkd.in/eHBQTkx. To donate to APHW’s team total, click on the Donate button and search for America’s Preferred Home Warranty. #AmericanCancerSociety #HisStrengthGuidesOurSteps #Fundraising

Relay for Life Team APHW 2019 Update

Relay for Life Team APHW 2019 Update

APHW has been involved with RelayForLife for years, and this year is no different. Check out how our goals have changed, what we’ve been doing, and where we’re hoping to end up in the fight against cancer. Join our fight and visit us at the APHW tent at the Relay for Life of Jackson County event Friday, August 2nd at Cascades Falls Park in Jackson, Michigan! You can also help our cause by making a donation here: https://lnkd.in/eHBQTkx To donate to APHW’s team total, click on the Donate button and search for America’s Preferred Home Warranty. AmericanCancerSociety HisStrengthGuidesOurSteps Fundraising

APHW Attends JA Fundraiser Dinner

APHW Attends JA Fundraiser Dinner

APHW Attends JA Fundraiser DinnerAmerica’s Preferred Home Warranty attended the annual Junior Achievement (JA) of the Michigan Edge fundraising dinner and auction Tuesday evening at the Commonwealth Commerce Center in Jackson, Michigan, as one of three Entrepreneur and Scholar #Sponsors recognized at the event. The birthday theme of the evening celebrated JA’s 100th anniversary of empowering young people to own their own economic success with volunteer-run K – 12 programs fostering work-readiness, financial literacy skills, and experiential learning. Visit their website https://bit.ly/2Hy03zW to learn how you can help with this amazing program!

APHW Employees Volunteer for Special Olympics

APHW Employees Volunteer for Special Olympics

APHW Employees Volunteer for Special OlympicsThe smell of freshly mown grass. The sun on your face. The ball. The competition. The cheering fans. These are things most kids enjoy easily. While special needs children may have to work harder to enjoy it, they want to compete just as badly—and win.

“That’s what it’s all about,” said Donna, the America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) employee who organized the company’s volunteers for the Special Olympics of Michigan 2018 State Fall Games. “It’s to show the world that yes, they may have a handicap or disability, but it doesn’t stop them from wanting to achieve what everyone else achieves in the world. They have wants and desires. They have goals, and being part of the Special Olympics helps them achieve some of those goals.”

The games were held September 28-30 in Ann Arbor, Canton, Chelsea, and Ypsilanti, Michigan. At first, Donna accepted the task because she felt APHW, which has donated to the cause in the past, should be represented. “We support this, so we should be out there as a team, showing our support,” she said. After attending the games, however, it became more than just being present.

“Going there and helping out and seeing the kids just made me feel really blessed,” she said. “I enjoyed seeing the kids go out and do things that people thought they couldn’t, watching them prove the stereotypes wrong.”

Donna’s efforts resulted in an additional nine volunteers attending the events, something the organizers were very appreciative of. “The new president of the organization, Tim Hileman, said that without the volunteers, the coaches and the athletes, the Special Olympics wouldn’t be there,” Donna said. “He escorted the person carrying the torch during the opening ceremonies. I felt blessed to be a part of it.”

Dave, who volunteered in the Flag Football games, was impressed at the joyful spirit of all the participants. “It was really fun seeing how the kids were into it,” he said. “It caused me to pause and reflect on what we take for granted.”

“It was so much fun!” said Arricca, who volunteered in the Skills Golf area. “Everyone who participated was in such a good mood, and just laughing and enjoying themselves. To be part of something that can bring them as much joy as they bring to the rest of the world is a real blessing.”