Tag: Relay for Life

APHW Raises $48.3K for Relay for Life

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

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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Team APHW Final Total for Relay for Life

Final Team APHW Total

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

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!!

APHW In-House Relay for Life Total

APHW In-House Relay for Life Fundraising Total

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

APHW In-House Relay for Life TotalTeam APHW set a $20,000 fundraising goal this year for the 20th anniversary of America’s Preferred Home Warranty. We EXCEEDED that goal and raised a whopping $22,037.48 for Relay for Life! We are ready to BEAT cancer with every dollar raised! America’s Preferred Home Warranty has also dedicated a corporate sponsorship. Stay tuned to find out what our true total is at the main event tonight at the Cascades! #ACS #RelayForLife #GOTEAM #APHW

APHW Makes Jackson Relay History

APHW Makes Jackson County Relay History

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

APHW Makes Jackson Relay HistoryWith the company president’s contribution, the APHW Relay for Life fundraising team made history Wednesday night, achieving Ruby status for raising more than $50,000 for Relay for Life of Jackson County, Michigan—the first ever Jackson County team to reach that high!

#RelayForLife #TeamAPHW #MakingHistory #GOTEAMGO

Pictured left to right are APHW Team Captain Cara Baker, their Relay for Life liaison, Senior Community Development Manager Samantha Miller, and APHW Team Secretary Nicholle Clark.

We Did It! APHW Achieves Relay for Life Goal

We Did It! APHW Achieves 2019 Fundraising Goal

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

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

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

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

Fund-Raising the Bar

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

It’s not uncommon for a company to raise money for a charity. Slightly less common is a company completely demolishing their previous year’s contribution. But a company that does both several years in a row? Now that’s downright rare—and America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) has done it again.

The APHW family has a special place in its heart for cancer charities, particularly the Relay for Life. “The previous owner [of APHW] passed away from cancer,” said Heidi, captain of the APHW Relay for Life fundraising team, adding that the current president and owner of APHW, Randy Caltrider, has lost multiple family members to it as well.  “One way or another, we are all connected with someone who has struggled with or survived cancer.”

The American Cancer Society charity is held annually in their hometown of Jackson, Michigan, and APHW has already blown past 2017’s total by more than $6,000—and they’re still going. “I’m really proud of the support that all the employees give to Relay,” Heidi said. “They continuously give, and show up, and are supportive. It’s very heartwarming.”

While APHW is still growing as a company (which certainly helps), the fundraising team’s incredible efforts are the real driving force behind everything raised. “We have fun with it,” Heidi said, listing off some of the fundraising events they’ve put together. “Spirit Day for the Michigan vs. Michigan State game, Halloween costume contests, food events like our Chili Cookoff and Cupcake Wars, monthly raffles—and we try to switch it up to make sure everyone has an opportunity to participate.” In the month of June alone they raised $812.23 by running Change Wars, an event where the winning team got a brownie party, and all anyone had to do was drop off their spare change (literally). Praise God for coin-counting machines!

All kidding aside, the team captain puts all the credit back on the staff and their willingness to give. “We wouldn’t be at our total without each and every employee that participates or donates,” Heidi said, “and I couldn’t be prouder of my coworkers.”

APHW’s fundraising efforts will continue until the final deadline of 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 4th. After the totals are tallied and the crowds have gone home, it will start all over again—with an even higher goal.

God Has Blessed Us—So We Give Back

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

For those who receive much, much is expected in return. Luke 12:48

Randy Caltrider was 52 before he decided to look for a company of his own. America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW) caught his interest, and he met with then-owner Doris Anderson.

“I rode with her for a few days and visited her customers,” Randy said, learning how she had beaten cancer through her Christian faith. At the time, the price she quoted for the business was more than Randy could afford, so he had to step away from the deal—but the friendship remained.

“Unbeknownst to me,” Randy said, “her cancer had come back.” One day over lunch she told him she had to go get checked out, and they prayed together. Almost seven months later, Randy received a call from her husband, saying she had passed.

Cancer has been a very ugly thing for all of Randy’s life. He lost his mother to it in the 4th grade, and many others over the years. His stepdaughter Crystal was only recently cleared of stage 4 breast cancer. So, he understood how Mr. Anderson felt. “He couldn’t set foot in the office anymore… she was his soulmate,” Randy said. Doris had spoken highly of Randy to her husband, however, and Mr. Anderson knew she would prefer APHW go to someone who would keep it in Jackson, Michigan. “He said if I came to meet with him, he’d make me a deal I couldn’t resist. I thought to myself, this must be a God thing,” Randy said.

APHW had a rough first year after Randy took over. “By February I was in trouble,” he said. “We did a lot of hours on our knees, praying.” In an effort to improve the situation he expanded into Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina. As a result of that expansion, revenue tripled, and the company hasn’t stopped growing since.

“The Lord has really blessed us beyond measure. Even through the tough times we’ve experienced growth. People would ask me why, and I would say, ‘God Economics,’” Randy said, referring to the Bible verse Luke 12:48. “That’s why we’re able to give, and we give in a mighty way to cancer.”

APHW gives thousands every year to a variety of cancer charities, including the Relay for Life. Over the last 12 months the staff has raised nearly $14,000 for the relay through various events and raffles at the corporate office. With Randy’s contribution, the final amount will top over $41,000 at this year’s relay in Jackson, Michigan.

“It’s all about being able to help and give back to the community, for those people that can’t afford doctors,” Randy said. “I’m finally in a position where I can make a difference, and there’s a lot of people in this world that don’t have insurance or the ability to be involved with a good hospital. A lot of the dollars we give go toward that.”

“I’ve lost a lot of people in my life to cancer, so I have a burning desire to do everything we can to get rid of it. I get really excited when we as a corporation work so hard to raise the dollars we do. It takes a lot of organization and hard work—just thinking about what they give, it just amazes me,” Randy said. “We’ve got a great bunch of employees at APHW who have a heart to help other people,” he said. “And it’s an honor to serve them.”

Click here to learn more or get involved with the Relay for Life.