WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Oct. 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For HanesBrands employee Angela Carpenter trading in a day at the office for a day out in the community is a small token of her appreciation. Carpenter along with 400 Hanes employees have chosen to participate in the company's annual Day of Caring, culminating the company's annual United Way campaign.
"I'm honored to work for a company that offers its employees a chance to volunteer for United Way partner agencies and other local agencies," said Carpenter. "It gives us an opportunity to see firsthand the impact these agencies are making."
During the Day of Caring event on Friday, Sept. 26, from 1 to 4 p.m., employee volunteers took on community service projects at eight community agencies in the city. The Hanes volunteers contributed thousands of volunteer hours carrying out tasks such as landscaping, painting, administrative duties, food sorting, cooking meals and more.
Carpenter like so many of the employee volunteers give back what they've been given by these local agencies – a service fueled by compassion and appreciation. Having delivered her third child six weeks premature Carpenter and her family utilized a lounge in Forsyth Medical Center sponsored by Ronald McDonald House.
The lounge gave Carpenter respite from her family's 10-day hospital stay.
"It gave us a quiet place to do homework so I could give quality time to my other two children," Carpenter said. "Day of Caring gives me the opportunity to give back to the community and those facilities that helped us."
The company's Day of Caring concluded its annual United Way campaign in which employees and the company pledge contributions and host a food drive.
"Our employees are incredibly committed to making a difference in the community where they live and work," said Russell D'Souza, Hanes' vice president, global transaction services and chairperson of the company's 2014 United Way campaign. "They are extremely thrilled and honored to lend a helping hand to local agencies that provide assistance to those facing immediate crisis. Hanes and its employees are committed to making Winston-Salem and Forsyth County a great place to live for all of its citizens."
The community service agencies and projects were:
- Youth Opportunities – Painting a mural on the exterior of the building and landscaping
- YMCA Camp Hanes – Landscaping and trail maintenance
- Second Harvest Food Bank – Food sorting, egg inspection, bean repackaging and closet renovation
- Family Services Child Development – Painting and sorting clothing
- The Children's Home – Interior painting, cleaning out a hay barn, and gardening
- Habitat for Humanity – Landscaping
- The Commons – Painting and landscaping
- Jerry Long YMCA – Painting picnic tables and gardening
Hanes and its employees have been the largest corporate contributor to the United Way chapter, donating more than $34 million over the past 15 years to support community agencies and programs.
"HanesBrands exemplifies philanthropic corporate citizenship in our community," said Cindy Gordineer, president and CEO of United Way of Forsyth County. "Because of their generosity and commitment to improving the quality of life for all of us, they have won United Way of North Carolina's Sprit of North Carolina award seven times. We are very grateful for the support HanesBrands gives to United Way of Forsyth County through their volunteerism, corporate giving, and strong annual employee campaign."
United Way of North Carolina awarded Hanes with its 2013 Spirit of North Carolina Campaign Excellence Award, recognizing the company for having the best campaign for its size in state. The company also won a Spirit Award in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011and 2012. In 2011, the United Way of Forsyth County honored Hanes with the "Decade of Excellence" award, recognizing the company's commitment to community volunteerism and financial support.
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