QMI Security Solutions has recently announced its team will donate $50,000 to hurricane relief efforts in a Nov. 8 ceremony.
QMI’s did not sit idly by after the devastation of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and the Mexico earthquakes. Many customers, family, and friends live in the stricken communities of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. The employees came up with a plan ─ to each donate the equivalent of at least one day’s wages to help those in need. That contribution in hours was matched by QMI, and together they raised $50,000 that will be donated to Direct Relief, a nonprofit organization that responds to natural disasters and emergency situations by rushing medical aid to communities in need.
“We all know people in the affected areas, and wanted to support those communities,” said Jim Miller, founder and president of QMI, which manufactures physical security and hurricane protection products such as rolling shutters and screens for retail, commercial, and residential customers throughout North America. “It was an opportunity to give back, and we are so proud that our employees took the initiative to do so. No matter their level, each donated at least eight hours of valuable time.”
Every employee participated—from Miller to the workers on the factory floor. In the end, QMI and its 91 employees, along with many of its contract workers, contributed a total of 2,100 hours, the equivalent of a full year’s wages. QMI offered employees five ways to contribute, including donating an hour per week for eight weeks, eight hours over one week, or eight hours of their vacation.
“QMI made it very easy to donate, and the match doubled our effort,” explained Tom Miller, QMI’s vice president of marketing. “We are so excited about what we did as a group; we raised more money together than we ever could individually. Just as important, we know our donation will directly help those who need it, as we chose a terrific charity that specifically directs funds to the four relief efforts we want to support.”
QMI’s donation will benefit Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization active in all fifty states and more than eighty countries, with a mission to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies.
“We are extremely grateful to QMI and its employees for their generosity in this critical time,” said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief’s CEO. “Following a succession of hurricanes that devastated communities throughout the Gulf Coast and Caribbean, as well as earthquakes in Mexico that affected thousands, Direct Relief’s primary task is minimizing any further toll on human life and helping communities rebuild. QMI’s donation goes far in helping achieve that end.”
QMI will present its check for $50,000 to Direct Relief board member Dr. Byron Scott in a special ceremony at 2 pm on November 8th at the company’s headquarters in Itasca, IL. More information about QMI’s effort can be found at www.qmiusa.com/qmicares.