COMMUNITY SERVICE

Roof Management Commits To Serving The Community

Five years ago, Terry and Tom Deichert, owners of Roof Management, made a decision that their company would formally give back to the community. Since that time, Roof Management has hosted two community service initiatives a year, significantly helping area individuals and organizations.

“We truly feel that we all are blessed in many ways, and we each need to give back continuously,” says Terry Deichert, whose extensive and active history of community service includes serving as President of the Board of Directors for the Farmington Hills Chamber of Commerce, along with serving as a Chamber ambassador. She also is known for her work with Longacre historical house and other community service projects.

Through the years, organizations have presented Terry and Tom with a variety of awards, such as for their work with Youth and Family Services. Terry also received the Athena Award for her volunteer work in helping women reach their full potential. Thus, it was a natural decision for them to involve their employees in serving the community.

“Giving back helps to create character. When you give, you receive far more than you gave,” says Terry, who shares her and Tom’s philosophy that, “We live, work and reap from this community, so giving back to our community is a win-win situation.”

Roof Management employees, as a group, make suggestions as to community service projects. They discuss ideas, conduct research, and vote on which projects to host. Most of the employees have been a part of the Deichert family for a long time, and as the company grows, new staff build their own community service commitment due to their colleagues.

Following, are a few of Roof Management’s recent community service projects. Feel free to contact us at 248 474.2767 with any ideas that you may have.

Goodfellows Christmas Giving
Two weeks before Christmas 2007, Roof Management staff put on their red-and-white Santa caps and enthusiastically donated their day delivering beautiful baskets of hope to families in need, in the Farmington and Farmington Hills communities.

Initially, the company made a $250 financial donation to help the Goodfellows organization. Then, they purchased $100 of books to help area children in need expand their minds.

Hearing the Goodfellow’s motto, “No child without a Christmas,” Roof Management realized this tight economic time was very difficult on many. So, they took an even more active role to support Goodfellows, who have been bringing Christmas to people for some 60 years.

They showed up at the warehouse with trucks, accepted gift baskets loaded by Goodfellows staff along with maps to families’ homes. Then, Roof Management staff became Christmas delivery persons for a day, providing families with children and seniors a Christmas.

“This was an incredible experience, and the feeling of giving back was just wonderful,” says Terry, whose company delivered bicycles, dollhouses and “tons” of other toys, plus huge amounts of food, and various store gift certificates.

Bowl-A-Thon for Harmony Youth Ranch
Roof Management learned of Harmony Youth Ranch, an organization that helps children heal from crises, difficulties, and illness, and in less than two months, the company planned a fundraiser to help this valuable organization build needed facilities. Harmony Youth Ranch provides, “a safe environment of clean fun for young people in a way that they can develop relationships with caring adults and cool horses.”

“We planned a bowl-a-thon,” says Terry, who took on the challenge and worried about raising the money. Apparently, worry was not necessary, as the company raised $3,400 for the ranch!

In December, 2007, 75 people attended the fun bowl-a-thon at Country Lanes in Farmington, Michigan. Event tickets included bowling, shoes, lunch, and a chance to win prizes.

Roof Management donated a variety of raffle gifts, including a set of luggage and microwave oven. Many area organizations donated gifts, and Mencotti’s Pizza & Grinders of Farmington provided pizza and salad.

“People commented that our prizes were nicer than any bowl-a-thon they attended,” says Terry, who remarks on the great family day it became. “It was heartwarming to put on this event, and every staff member in our company participated. It was our best fundraiser, as people were very giving, especially right before the holidays.”

The owner of Harmony Youth Ranch personally visited Roof Management after the event to formally thank everyone for their generous donations of time, effort and money. “We learned about the touching miracles that occur in children at Harmony Youth Ranch,” Terry says.

Walk-A-Thon for Area Student
When Roof Management learned of a terrible diving accident experienced by a customer’s son, a hometown football hero, they immediately joined St Matthew’s church to support the family via a Walk-A-Thon.

Matt Kerry was a 240-pound defensive linebacker for Divine Child High School, recruited for football scholarships by a variety of colleges. A freak diving accident suddenly left him paralyzed in 2006.

Matt, a team leader and role model, underwent painful spinal cord surgery, and extensive physical therapy and recreational therapy. His family built an addition onto his bedroom, purchased such items as a special bed and a bed lift as well as a van to transport him.

Roof Management supported a two-mile Fun Walk and Family Social in October 2006 at Levagood Park in Dearborn Heights, which included a raffle and silent auction to support the Matthew Kerry Trust Fund. The company donated $500 and sponsored employees who participated in the walk, by donating $50-$75 per employee.

“This was an emotional and financial hardship, and we wanted to raise money to help their home accommodate Matt,” says Terry, who recalls that Kerry Brothers was one of Roof Management’s first customers. “They are such a good family. We felt so helpless and didn’t know what to do. Then, the Walk-A-Thon came about, and it really gave us a wonderful opportunity to jump in and help and give back to our customers, but more important, to this wonderful family in need,” she says.