Briggs & Stratton Corporation
Community
Involvement Report
Briggs & Stratton’s promise, ‘The Power That Works For You’ not only
speaks to the products we manufacture, but renews itself in the community
through the various charities and programs we participate in.
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“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and
importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Education
H
olding the dual role of company and corporate
citizen, Briggs & Stratton is focused on ensuring that
our area’s workforce has the skills and knowledge to meet
the challenges and demands of these changing times. For
this reason, education is a major area of emphasis in our
community involvement efforts.
In the early 1990’s Briggs & Stratton began the Higher
Horizons college scholarship program for Milwaukee
Public School students. Continuing to help young people
finance their college education is one way we show our
dedication to increasing transformational leadership.
Mr. John goes to
class
By assisting our future leaders in gaining access to higher education we hope to enable them to first stand beside us,
and then take our places in the community. With the world changing every day, the better we prepare our children
for the careers of tomorrow, the better tomorrow will be for all of us.
“No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden
in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.”
- Emma Goldman
SPELLBOUND FOR LITERACY
S
ince 1999 Briggs & Stratton has participated in the annual
Spellbound for Literacy held by the Literary Services of
Wisconsin. This fundraising spelling bee brings in over $30,000
a year to help provide basic adult education for functionally
illiterate adults in Wisconsin. This year, the Briggs & Stratton
spelling bee team won the manufacturing division championship
and placed 3rd in the overall competition.
Briggs & Stratton Spelling Bee team
W
e are also proud to serve as an underwriter for the
Channel 10/36 Friends Auction, and have been
doing so for over 25 years. This on-air fundraising event
generates an excess of $1 million annually for PBS affiliate
stations 10 and 36. The money raised is used to purchase
quality educational programming for viewers and maintain
equipment. The funds support 10 minutes of every hour
of programming.
Interns at luncheon
Other educational initiatives include:
• Co-op and internship opportunities for students from various colleges and universities
• Participation in Junior Achievement, which serves elementary through high school students
Culture & The Arts
T
he strength and vitality of a community can be measured not only in economic terms, but also by the health
of its culture. Encouraging and sustaining the arts within the Milwaukee area is a worthwhile pursuit that
enriches our lives by stimulating creativity and promoting involvement.
We believe that supporting the performing arts can contribute to the culture and excitement in our area, as well as
foster increased commerce and tourism.
“We are involved in all of the communities in which we have manufacturing
facilities. This is a natural extension of our overall corporate philosophy.”
- George R. Thompson III
Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Relations
UNITED PERFORMING ARTS FUND (UPAF)
B
riggs & Stratton gives annually to UPAF, one of the nation’s largest united arts funds. The money raised by
UPAF helps to keep dozens of Milwaukee-area performing arts groups running in our current economy.
Compared with other cities its size, the metro-Milwaukee area supports more arts organizations than any other city.
In 2004 alone, the UPAF annual fundraising drive raised nearly $10 million.
SUMMERFEST
O
ne of the most heralded events in Milwaukee is
Summerfest, “The Worlds Largest Music Festival.”
Briggs & Stratton has served as a major sponsor of the
festival for the past nine years with the “Briggs & Stratton
Big Backyard” music stage. During this eleven-day event,
Summerfest welcomes more than 1 million people from
all over the United States and Europe, which generates
an annual economic impact of $60 million for the city
of Milwaukee.
Summerfest artis
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Summerfest
M
ore recently, Briggs & Stratton brought the Rock
& Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to Milwaukee
in an exhibit entitled Ferry Cross the Mersey: The British
Invasion. The display was featured at The Encore, a new
three-day mini-festival held over Labor Day weekend
2004. Almost 50,000 patrons attended in order to
celebrate the ending of summer.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame exhibit
Additional stewardship for the arts includes:
• The Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
• The Milwaukee Repertory Theater
• The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
• The Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
Civic & General
A
s one of the largest employers in the Milwaukee area, Briggs & Stratton wants to help lead the effort to help
those in need, promote a vibrant business climate, and add to the enjoyment of life for employees, friends,
and neighbors.
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES
F
or more than ten years, Briggs & Stratton has collaborated with Goodwill Industries of Southeastern
Wisconsin on the Customized Labor Solutions and AbilITy Connection programs. These partnerships provide
job training and experience for individuals who are disabled or have barriers to employment. We share Goodwill’s
belief in the power of work to strengthen individuals, families, and our communities.
“The work opportunities that Briggs & Stratton provides for people with disabilities served by Goodwill
Industries demonstrates an exemplary level of corporate social responsibility. Take pride in knowing that
Briggs & Stratton is making a tremendous impact improving individual lives, families, and communities.”
- Pat Boelter, Vice President of Marketing & Development, Goodwill Industries
YMCA
I
n order to create successful lives, you must first develop well-rounded individuals. With this in mind, we
support the YMCA Strong Kids campaign, which raises funds for scholarships that provide access to the
YMCA’s programs and services. Included in these resources are day camp, childcare, mentoring, youth sports,
and family activities.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
T
hrough our affiliation with the Milwaukee Bucks and
the Bucks Buddies program, we offer game tickets to
Briggs & Stratton employees and charitable youth groups. Each
season, Briggs & Stratton partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Metro Milwaukee in order to recognize the good work done
by the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the
United States.
Halftime highlight: Big Brothers Big Sisters
Briggs & Stratton also supports these local sports organizations:
• Milwaukee Admirals
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Milwaukee Wave
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Basketball
“The capacity to care is the thing which
gives life its deepest meaning and significance.”
- Pablo Casals
Health & Human Services
O
ver the past nine years we are proud to have held the position of
title sponsor for Al’s Memorial Run and Walk for Children’s
Hospital presented by Briggs & Stratton. Now in its 27th year, the
run/walk has raised over $6 million for the neonatal and prenatal intensive
care units at Children’s Hospital. 2004 boasted more than 17,000 runners
and walkers, bringing in over $1 million, the largest amount ever collected
for Children’s Hospital.
Karen & George Thompson, Fred & Ann Stratton
Over 600 Briggs & Stratton employees and their families participated in the 2004 run/walk.
The Briggs & Stratton team placed #2 in pledge-raising overall and in the corporate division.
Briggs & Stratton holds Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in the
highest esteem due to the positive impact they have had on
health care. Child Magazine ranked Children’s Hospital of
Wisconsin among the top three hospitals of its kind in the
United States. In addition, the Emergency Department earned
the elite ranking of No. 1 in pediatric emergency medical care,
the Herma Heart Center was rated No. 5 in pediatric cardiac
care, Orthopedic Services were rated No. 6, and Neonatology
Services were ranked No. 7.
Starting line at Al’s Memorial Run
“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes
a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”
- Vince Lombardi
CHILDREN’S SERVICE SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN
T
he Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin is the largest private, nonprofit provider of child welfare services, and has been in place for over a
century. As longtime supporters we say with confidence that CSSW effectively
helps abused and neglected children by helping to provide safe and nurturing
foster homes, adoptive homes, counseling and crisis intervention.
John & Helen Shiely, Colleen Dougherty and Steven Marcus
SUSAN G. KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE®
B
riggs & Stratton is honored to be among the sponsors of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® that takes
place in Milwaukee annually. With over one million participants around the world involved in the Race for the
®
Cure Series, early diagnosis and general awareness is rising.
UNITED WAY
W
e stand behind the United Way of Greater Milwaukee with its goal of helping improve the lives of people in
the Milwaukee area. In 2004 alone, the United Way raised just over $37 million for our community.
Disaster Relief
9/11
I
mmediately following the tragedy on September 11, 2001, Briggs & Stratton held a fundraising drive to help aid
the disaster relief efforts in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C.
Briggs & Stratton employee and PACE Local 7-0232 contributions were vital to the donation given to the
American Red Cross/Liberty Disaster Relief Fund. The Company matched these donations 100% for a
total of almost $40,000 in aid.
SOUTHERN HURRICANES OF ‘04
W
hen hurricanes swept through the southern United States in 2004,
thousands were left without the power needed to rebuild their lives.
Briggs & Stratton deployed The Rapid Response Team in order to distribute
and repair generators and pressure washers in storm-ravaged areas. In
addition, several hundred generators were donated to the American Red
Cross for distribution to those in need. We happily accepted recognition
from The Home Depot for “outstanding service in the Southeast Division
during the ‘Hurricanes of ‘04’.”
Disaster relief donation presentation
SOUTHERN ASIA TSUNAMI DISASTER
I
n the wake of the southern Asia tsunami disaster, Briggs & Stratton was inundated with
employee requests to donate to the American Red Cross of Greater Milwaukee Chapter/
Southern Asia Disaster relief effort. In addition to a contribution from the Company’s
foundation, Briggs & Stratton donated several hundred generators, and employees
graciously donated funds through the Power of Giving program.
Power of Giving
I
n addition to corporate contributions, many Briggs & Stratton employees invest in the community through our
Power of Giving program, making our support a true group effort. Through this web-based charitable giving
program employees are able to contribute funds to worthy causes of their choice. Featured charities include:
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation,
United Performing Arts Fund, and United Way of Greater Milwaukee.
“The Power of Giving program offers our employees complete ownership and involvement to contribute
to causes of interest to them. The generosity of our employees to the community has been overwhelming.”
- Laura Timm, Director of Corporate Communications and Events
Some additional organizations benefited by the Power of Giving:
• Aids Resource Center of Wisconsin, Inc.
• Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital, Inc.
• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee
• Penfield Children’s Center
• Hope Network, Inc.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities®
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc.
• Wisconsin Lutheran Child & Family
• Milwaukee Rescue Mission
Briggs & Stratton Regional Manufacturing Facilities
Corporate Headquarters
Milwaukee, WI
Briggs & Stratton
Power Products Group
Jefferson, WI
Rolla, MO
Simplicity Manufacturing
Port Washington, WI
Poplar Bluff, MO
Murray, KY
Statesboro, GA
Florida Test Base
Fort Pierce, FL
Auburn, AL
© 2005 Briggs & Stratton Corporation
MP-6770-2/05
www.briggsandstratton.com
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