Manitowoc employees across the organization came together in June for the company's second annual "Empowering Warriors & Raising Hope" initiative, supporting the organization K9s For Warriors and raising awareness of the challenges facing the veteran community.
Led by Manitowoc's Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG), the initiative engaged employees at the company's Shady Grove manufacturing plant, Milwaukee corporate office and all 17 MGX Equipment Services locations.
K9s For Warriors is a Ponte Vedra, Fla.-based nonprofit that rescues shelter dogs and trains them as service dogs for veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder. The organization's programs help veterans regain independence, confidence, and hope while giving rescue dogs a second chance at life.
The Empowering Warriors & Raising Hope event centers around number 22, a tragic statistic reflecting that on average, 22 veterans commit suicide daily in the United States. This figure has been widely used to bring significant awareness and advocacy efforts to veteran suicide.
At Manitowoc's Shady Grove manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania, 56 employees completed a combined 1,181 laps around a Grove TMS800-2 truck crane custom wrapped in a U.S. flag design. The crane marked the walking route and displayed the American flag and flags representing each branch of the U.S. military.
Across all 17 MGX Equipment Services locations, 358 employees participated in a "22 Lunch" fundraiser, contributing $2.22 for a hot dog, chips and a soda.
Employees at Manitowoc's corporate office in Milwaukee also supported the effort. On June 9, 40 employees packed 22 backpacks with supplies and collectively completed 22 laps along a designated walking path.
Employees and supporters also bought 45 limited-edition "22" shirts, with proceeds benefiting K9s For Warriors. Employee contributions and branch fundraising generated just over $4,000, while the Manitowoc Foundation committed an additional $10,000, bringing the current contribution to more than $14,000.
"Empowering Warriors & Raising Hope gives our employees a meaningful way to come together in support of veterans and their families," said Heather Monn, HR business partner and Manitowoc VERG chair. "The participation across Shady Grove, Milwaukee, and every MGX location shows how strongly our people believe in this cause. Whether they walked laps, packed backpacks, purchased a shirt or made a donation, every contribution helped extend the impact of the campaign."
