RioTel Assists Local Family in Time for Christmas
Houston, Texas, December 30, 2013: RioTel helped the holidays shine brighter for a family in need through their Acts of RioTel Kindness (A.R.K.) program. Initially launched during the holiday season of 2011, RioTel’s annual A.R.K. program includes two types of giving, individual and group. The individual giving program provides a cash donation to RioTel employees and contractors with a “pay it forward” message so they can bless others with their gift. The group giving program involves a gift to a company selected family, group, or organization in need.
The A.R.K. group program helped a local Houston area family, through RioTel’s participation in KSBJ’s Annual Giving Tree Program. RioTel employees selected a family in need identified by the Humble Area Assistance Ministries, (HAAM), whose offices are located just a few miles from the new RioTel office location. According to RioTel President Karin Williams; “This year, we moved the company headquarters to Houston, and it seemed fitting that we should help our new neighbors, so a HAAM-identified family in need was a great choice.”
After selecting the charity, Williams decided to delegate most of the program details to other company leaders to execute the spirit of the program. In fitting fashion, Williams selected Michele Ramirez, Manager of Quality and Project Administration, to lead the effort to plan and execute this year’s program. Sherard Tate, Director of Technical Services, designed a new logo for the A.R.K. campaign, and delivered the gifts.
Williams stated, “I was delighted with the way they turned this into a fun holiday project where everyone had a hand in it.” Ramirez divided employees into 3 teams: Kringle, Rudolph, and Holiday Cheer, led by 3 of the company’s newest employees. According to Ramirez, “I thought allowing our new employees to lead and organize the giving would help them feel more a part of the company and our culture.” The holiday teams selected a family in need, purchased a bike for one of the children, a gift card for clothing from Kohl’s, and a general VISA gift card to help this family.
After teams selected the family and purchased the gifts, Sherard Tate stepped in to deliver the gifts to HAAM. Although he didn’t drive a sleigh over, he remarked, “It was like Santa’s workshop… People were packing up groceries and gifts for delivery. The HAAM staff members were so appreciative!”
For more information contact:
Michele Ramirez
Manager, Quality and Project Administration
RioTel
281-485-8666, ext. 113
michele.ramirez@riotel.co
www.RioTel.co
