How Acadian Won the 2022 SAMMY Award for Best Community Outreach Program

Despite a global pandemic and a deadly hurricane, Acadian Total Security (ATS) managed to conduct a broad array of meaningful community outreach programs while making sure to keep its staff and its customers safe.

“Our team loves to give back, but the pandemic and weather events tried to hinder our efforts. Although the current situation made things a little more difficult, we found a way to do what we love doing best, giving to those who need it most,” says Michelle Trahan, division coordinator.

Among the litany of outreach programs held by the Lafayette, La.-based company in 2021 were volunteering for the Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida with programs educating the public on installing household smoke detectors, tarping roofs and cooking for co-workers.

Staff also worked concessions at the local Christmas attraction that benefits LARC, a non-profit serving the needs of people with developmental disabilities.

“Our employees showed that being a local company is more than just a nice tagline on a sales brochure,” adds Trahan. Hurricane Ida hit Sept. 1, 2021, which just happened to coincide with the planned celebration for the 50th anniversary of ATS. Instead of gathering for the golden anniversary of the company, Acadian team members pivoted to take care of those affected by the storm.

ATS salespeople drove ambulances, service technicians loaded response vehicles with needed supplies, administrative assistants collected donations and cooked for the company’s working crews, and the ATS management team manned the phones. ATS employees donated food, housewares and other necessities to their fellow employees in the wake of the hurricane.

ATS also traveled two hours east to cook for residents and employees affected by the disaster. But ATS’ community outreach was not limited to Hurricane Ida response. Company staff volunteered at Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness & Housing (ARCH) to organize their Sharehouse where people can “shop” for gently used items to furnish their homes once they are removed from the streets and placed in long-term housing.

Also, for the fourth year in a row, ATS donated and installed a security system in the St. Jude Dream Home, a fundraiser where raffle tickets are purchased by participants in the hopes of winning a home valued at more than $450,000. Acadian also sponsored the Help a Family in Need Giveaway with other area businesses by donating a $500 gift card to a deserving family this holiday season.

Each year the company also participates in the Acadian Giving Program in which it sends Christmas cards to vendors and customers with a link for them to log in and pick a charity of their choice for a donation. In 2021, a total of $3,400 was donated to various charitable organizations on behalf of ATS clients.

The company supported or participated in nearly 50 other charitable events last year, ranging from golf tournament sponsorships for various organizations to hosting events that support law enforcement, hospitals, religious groups, charitable organizations such as Give-a-Wish, and local business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis and Rotary Club.

As a whole, ATS’ biggest philanthropic support is via the United Way of Acadiana campaign. All employees are encouraged to give one hour of their pay each month to the cause and are then entered into a drawing to win prizes. The goal every year is to have more than half of ATS staff participate.

Company Founder Richard Zuschlag and many at Acadian also support the Brees Dream Foundation, which was a provider of help to many first responders during the COVID pandemic. ATS’ parent company Acadian Ambulance Service is also at the forefront of the healthcare crisis.

The post How Acadian Won the 2022 SAMMY Award for Best Community Outreach Program appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.



from News Archives - Security Sales & Integration https://www.securitysales.com/business/sales/acadian-2022-sammy-best-community-outreach/
via IFTTT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Total Tech Summit Puts Call Out for Top Integrators to Apply Now

Image
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Total Tech Summit announces that applications are now being accepted to attend this year’s event. Comprised of the  SSI Summit, CE Pro Summit and Commercial Integrator Summit, this year’s event will take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Nov. 13-15. At this all-expense-paid, exclusive event, VIP guests will have the chance to sit in on industry-defining sessions, key boardroom presentations, and be able to meet one-on-one with potential vendors. Total Tech Summit brings together the best in class to share ideas, learn from others, and most importantly, accelerating the next stage of their businesses. It is the only event of its kind that bridges channels and connections by bringing together professional security, commercial AV and residential AV integrators. Another perk of the Total Tech Summit is the VIP Peer-to-Peer groups. These group conversations take place throughout the months leading up to the event and are guided by the editors of t
Read more

Top 10 Security Stories From October 2021: China Ban Gains Steam, Vivint Countersues ADT

October saw its fair share of legal issues and acquisitions. This month, lawsuits involved home security companies, a gunshot detection provider and even a media company. Vivint Smart Home is seeking retribution for the lawsuit ADT filed against it last year that alleged Vivint salespeople go to ADT customers’ homes, get them to sign Vivint contracts and install the company’s alarm systems in their homes under false pretenses. Vivint had requested a motion to have that lawsuit dismissed, but when the judge denied the motion, Vivint launched a countersuit claiming it is in fact ADT that is deceiving and stealing its customers. Gunshot detection provider ShotSpotter filed a lawsuit against media company Vice, alleging it is profiting off of fabricated claims. Vice has been critical about ShotSpotter’s technology in a multitude of articles. Though not a lawsuit, Dahua and Hikvision continue to feel pressure from the U.S. government as it considers a new measure that would make it imp
Read more

Minnesota AG Calls for Cancellation of Home Security Contracts for Alleged Fraud

STEARNS COUNTY, Minn. — Bring Me the News reports that Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison, says he’s gotten consumers in Stearns County out of home security contracts after they were misled by a door-to-door salesman. According to the report, Ellison’s office announced that home security companies Skyline Security Management and Safe Home Security have agreed to their cancel contracts with customers in and around Stearns County who purchased their systems from door-to-door salesman Gary Harvey. “Door-to-door salesmen and their employers are in the business of trust-building,” Ellison said in a statement. “They know they need to have your trust to sell you their products, particularly expensive products like security systems that are supposed to keep your home safe. When that trust is betrayed, it’s emotionally and financially painful. I appreciate Skyline and Safe Home taking the right step in canceling these contracts while my office does what we can under the law to hold M
Read more