A casual conversation about working together between the CEOs of two of Columbus’ most prominent industries led to significant donations for some of the area’s hardest-working service organizations.
In a first for both of them, the top executives for Cummins and Toyota Material Handling North America together distributed $5,000 donation checks — $20,000 in total — from their companies Thursday.
The presentations by Tom Linebarger, Cummins chairman and CEO, and Brett Wood, Toyota Material Handling North America president and CEO, were made at the new United Way offices at 13th Street and Hutchins Avenue, a renovated city fire station.
The checks went to representatives from the Salvation Army, Lincoln-Central Family Neighborhood Center, United Way 2-1-1 and the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund.
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All four organizations are working tirelessly this holiday season to provide food, clothing, Christmas gifts and help to families in need from the Columbus area community. The donations are above and beyond the traditional giving efforts of the two companies, the two CEOs said.
Mark Stewart, president of the United Way of Bartholomew County, said the presentation was another example of the Columbus community coming together — from the nonprofit sector to the for-profit sector — to help the community.
“We are blessed to have that in our midst,” he said of the contributions Cummins and Toyota and their employees make through volunteer work, contributions and support to United Way agencies all year.
How it came together
Linebarger and Wood acknowledged that it was a rare occurrence to have both company top executives in Columbus in the same room for a presentation at the same time.
The two began their informal collaboration earlier this year, with Linebarger visiting Toyota and Wood visiting Cummins, and the two CEOs talked about a new idea beyond the usual holiday charity programs supported by the companies.
“One of the first opportunities we identified was to explore the possibilities around our charity programs since we both call Columbus our home,” Wood said.
In the meantime, executive assistants for the two leaders, Amy Lian at Cummins and Shelley Bramlett at Toyota, began working together to come up with a plan, neither realizing at the time it would culminate in the rare opportunity to have both CEOs appear together in Columbus.
His voice a little scratchy, Wood said he changed his flight plans over the past several days, flying in to Columbus from Atlanta specifically for Thursday’s event and the chance to make the check presentations with Linebarger.
“I seem to have left my voice somewhere, but I didn’t leave my appreciation for everything you do,” he told the representatives from the groups receiving checks. “I had to change my flight and I’m glad I did for this chance to recognize you. This is really special to me.”
One of Toyota’s core values is to be humble, kind and generous within our local communities, Wood told the group.
“Some may think that big city hardships do not find their way to Columbus. Unfortunately this is not true,” he said. “We have big city hardships in Columbus.”
Linebarger said he was honored to be with Wood in presenting the donations, saying through the years Cummins has been a part of the effort to bring more really great companies to Columbus, and there are none better than Toyota.
The Cummins chairman said Thursday’s announcement was a great opportunity for the leaders of the two companies to step up and so something together, in the hopes it might encourage other local companies to step up with them in the future.
Linebarger paid tribute to United Way, saying Cummins relies on the charitable agency to provide guidance as to where volunteers and help are needed in the community and to move all that employee energy and direct it into action.
“I work a lot and travel a lot and I sell a lot of engines,” Linebarger said. “But there is nothing more important that we do than help the people in our community.”
Linebarger said he deeply respected what each organization’s volunteers were doing for the community and said he was “incredibly grateful for it.”
Reaction to gifts
Representatives of each of the charities had a moment to talk about what the donation meant to each organization.
Randy Allman, executive director of the Lincoln-Central Family Neighborhood Center, credited Cummins with being instrumental in helping found the center 25 years ago.
The donation from the two companies will go to help 700 children from families in the neighborhood through the Angel of Love program, and assist with a bicycle distribution and a Christmas Day dinner. Allman said because of the companies’ generosity, neighborhood residents will have a special holiday.
Columbus firefighter Ben Noblitt, who is leading this year’s Firemen’s Cheer Fund effort with its distribution this Saturday, thanked Linebarger and Wood for helping the Cheer Fund assist more than 1,200 children this year.
The Salvation Army is hoping to turn its $5,000 check into $10,000 by challenging the Columbus community to match the donation on one of the last days of bell-ringing, Dec. 21. Lt. Amy Tompkins said this year’s Red Kettle campaign is running about $30,000 below where the organization would like to be, much like last year, and the $5,000 was much appreciated — and they hope to turn it into $10,000 with the community’s help.
The Salvation Army is assisting nearly 500 children in the community, including some who have a parent in prison by providing a gift for each of them, she said. The organization is also helping about 200 seniors with Christmas gifts and will offer a Christmas dinner, along with ongoing support to prevent hunger through its food pantry.
The organization that helps individuals find help, United Way 2-1-1, also received a check, which director Alicia Monroe said will be used to address a continuing increase in needs in the community.
“When I reviewed the backgrounds of each of these four organizations, I felt there was a common thread,” Wood said before handing out the checks. “And it actually can be described in one word — hope,” he said. “They all work hard to bring hope to people who truly need it. Thank you for all you do … and for the goodness that you and your teams constantly provide to the people in Columbus who need help.”
Linebarger took out his phone as a reference, saying his daughter Alex, 24, had texted him on Thursday morning to remind her father that he shouldn’t forget to give back to people experiencing homelessness.
“This year for the holidays I just gave a woman I see every day in the subway a nice Christmas box that I packed full of essentials,” Alex Linebarger Janin, a New York City journalist, wrote in her text. “Building individual relationships is important,” her text said, followed by a heart emoji to her father.
Linebarger, who became emotional as he read the text, followed it by saying, “So no excuse, we need to get off our butts and help some people,” which generated laughter from the audience. “I’m just really grateful to all of you,” Linebarger said to the group, adding “and Merry Christmas.”
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If you are interested in helping the four agencies that received donations from Toyota Material Handling North America and Cummins, Inc., here is how to connect:
- Salvation Army: Visit sacolumbus.org or donate at red kettle locations at various locations around Columbus, including Kroger Marketplace, Walmart, Rural King, Hobby Lobby and other locations.
- Lincoln-Central Family Neighborhood Center: Visit lcnfc.org for donation and volunteer opportunties.
- United Way 2-1-1: Contact Alicia Monroe at [email protected] or 812-376-0011.
- Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund: Visit the organization’s Facebook page at facebook.com/columbusfiremens.cheerfund or drop off donations to any Columbus fire station.
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