Fann employees give back

Making A Difference, Prescott-style

FEMAD awards over $54K to local nonprofits

Twelve years ago, when Fann Contracting President Mike Fann kicked off its new charitable giving program, Fann Employees Making A Difference (FEMAD), his goal was simply to encourage his employees to join him in giving back to their local communities.

“When we developed this companywide initiative we knew it would be rewarding for our employees to participate in,” said Fann, who matches every employee contribution dollar-for-dollar. “It truly is amazing, year after year, how the Fann employees have stepped up to help some of the best nonprofits in the community. I feel blessed to be a part of such an amazing group of people who really care about our community and give back to those who are less fortunate.

“We are also proud to have employees from Fann Environmental, our sister company, supporting the program through their ongoing participation.”

Fann has good reason to be proud of his employees, as FEMAD distributed a total 2018 contribution of $54,277 among six local nonprofit organizations — bringing the total of the 12-year program to $519,564 gifted to area charitable groups through FEMAD, according to a news release.

The example of FEMAD has now reached other local businesses through a grant from the Arizona Community Foundation’s Pakis Center for Business Philanthropy called the BOOST! Prize, which Fann Contracting, Inc. was awarded in 2017. Fann received $40,000 to boost their efforts as good corporate citizens. The winnings were shared with local businesses to inspire them to expand their own charitable leadership in the community.

Those businesses — Affinity RV, Country Bank, El Gato Azul, HOAMCO, Lamb Auto Group and Yavapai Title Agency — have now set-up their own employee giving “FEMAD” programs and have already contributed to as many as 25 local nonprofits.

“I’m so proud that these businesses have used our example of good charitable practices. It’s great to see so many more local non-profits benefit from this way of giving,” Fann said.

Local nonprofits being awarded 2018 FEMAD contributions are: Catholic Charities Community Services, which provides family, marital and individual counseling and emergency aid; CCJ (Coalition for Compassion and Justice), which provides vital services, education and advocacy for those living in poverty; Prevent Child Abuse/Yavapai Family Advocacy Center, which promotes programs to ensure that all children grow up in safe, healthy environments; Stepping Stones, a 24-hour shelter and support resource for women and children in crisis; West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, Inc., a community health center providing addiction treatment for adults; and YEI!/Prescott Charities, where disabled Prescott-area adults receive job training, employment and support.

“This program helps us to buy supplies and improve our properties that house many of our employees. If there was a road to heaven that needed paving, it would be done by Fann Contracting. Their giving back to this community is just amazing,” stated Brad Newman, director of Yavapai Exceptional Industries.

Every employee who signs up to join FEMAD selects the contribution amount that he or she wants to give, and can choose either weekly payroll deductions or a one-time deduction from a single paycheck. FEMAD participants even determine how their individual contributions are disbursed. An employee can choose to give that donation to just one charity, or split the total among several or all six non-profits on the list.

Fann Contracting, Inc., Fann Environmental, LLC and FEMAD, its affiliate employee charitable contributions program, actively support local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in an effort to make a difference to Prescott and surrounding communities in Yavapai County. Business owners who want to learn more about how to establish a program like FEMAD may contact Kerri Vaughn at 928-778-0170.

Information provided by Fann Contracting.