ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At a recent convention hosted by Marcone Supply, attendees welcomed special guest Battalion Command Sergeant Major Dewayne Keel, a decorated Army serviceman who has spent three tours in Iraq as part of his ongoing, near 30-year career. BCSM Keel, speaking to convention-goers about how helping military families can transform lives and make deployments more bearable, was part of an emotional award ceremony recognizing Marcone for its continued commitment to HEROES Care.
The non-profit military support network HEROES Care was the convention’s featured charity, a capstone on a recent fundraising campaign undertaken by Marcone that netted over $22,000 in donations. The care package drive to which those funds were allocated paid for more than 550 boxes full of comfort items that were delivered for the holidays to soldiers serving overseas. As BCSM Keel noted, "[The packages] boost morale and make my soldiers' lives easier. You are providing a caring presence in the lives of those who need it most."
HEROES Care President Jon Jerome and Vice Chairman Dave Woolley were also at the event to honor the many Marcone customers, employees, and family members who contributed to the campaign, and to acknowledge the company's support of HEROES Care and the families it helps sustain. A room of over 400 attendees watched as Marcone President Jim Souers was presented with a commemorative American flag that had been flown in Afghanistan on the 10th anniversary of the September 11th World Trade Center attacks. That flag came with its own story too: As soldiers in BCSM Keel's command in Afghanistan saluted it in remembrance of 9/11, the area came under mortar fire—yet soldiers held their salute despite being subject to enemy combat. The flag bears a visible burn to this day.
As one part of Marcone's longstanding corporate social responsibility efforts for military support organizations, the company is continuing its charity towards HEROES Care into the new year. Over just three days at the convention, more than $4,000 in donations was raised from attendees, staff, and Marcone’s business partners.
"We cannot do what we do without the support of those who see value in our mission. Thank you for providing help and hope when it is needed most." —HEROES Care Vice Chairman, Dave Woolley
HEROES Care is a partnership of national charities providing a support network to military members and their families. Through a system of one-on-one caregiving, military families receive services before, during, and after deployment. Emergency financial aid, mental health care, and job placement are just a few of the threads in the safety net HEROES Care creates for soldiers and their loved ones.
Marcone Supply is a major appliance parts distributor with over 50 stores across North America. The company was established in 1932, and is a long-time contributor to several military support organizations including the Navy League, Fischer House Foundation, and the USO.
