This holiday season stores were abounding with shoppers looking for that perfect gift, but Unfortunately at the same time there are thousands of families across Southeast Michigan that are struggling to provide even a modest Christmas for their children. According to the Salvation Army of Southeast Michigan, 16.8 percent of Michigan residents are living in poverty, the highest percentage in four decades, and adopt-a-family agencies are flooded with requests for support. That’s why many local companies like Troy’s Champion Home Builders have rallied their employees to help make a difference and grant holiday wishes for local families in need.
Champion and its employees supported more than 94 children and their family members through the Salvation Army's Adopt-A-Family and the Bloomfield Hills Optimist Club Children's Holiday Wish programs. Funds were raised throughout the year in order to provide gifts for the children and even household items that the families may be doing without. Champion employees donated funds and shopped for gifts from the family wish lists and worked together to wrap all the gifts.
“It’s exciting for us to participate in these community support programs because it gives all of Champion’s Southeast Michigan employees a chance to get involved and give back to the community in which we live and work,” said Linda Wagner, one of three employee organizers of Champion’s efforts. “Our 2012 campaign was the most successful campaign we’ve done out of the four years we’ve worked with the Bloomfield Hills Optimist Club. Families from both agencies received a collection of gifts from their wish list that included toys, clothing, general household products. In total, more than $8,500 worth of goods was donated.”
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The Bloomfield Hills Optimist Club’s Holiday Wish program supports disadvantaged and at-risk children, who might otherwise not have a happy holiday. The group’s 2012 goal was to purchase, wrap and distribute presents to over 3,100 local children in Head Start programs in Oakland County.
“As a home builder, families are our number one priority. We know and understand our obligation to support families in need and celebrate the opportunity to provide these gifts to families in our community,” said Jack Lawless, Champion CEO.
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About Champion
Troy, Michigan-based Champion Home Builders, Inc. is a leader in factory-built construction which, through its operating subsidiaries, manufactures products at 29 facilities in North America and the United Kingdom and distributes its products through independent retailers, builders and developers. The Champion family of builders produces manufactured and modular homes, as well as modular buildings for government and commercial applications. For more information, please visit
