Volunteer Activities
Directors, officers, and employees are encouraged and given the opportunity to serve in volunteer capacities in the communities where the Company conducts business. We have employees that serve in leadership positions with various charitable, business and religious organizations. We sponsor volunteer activities by participating in Day of Caring programs through the United Way and adopting shelters at Christmas.
Education
The Company encourages employees to give financial aid to the colleges or universities of their choice. All full-time, regular employees may give to any accredited public or private two-year or four-year college or university, and the Company will contribute a dollar-for-dollar match up to a maximum amount designated each year.
The Company also has a scholarship program for graduating seniors attending high schools in certain towns and districts where we have employees. Any graduating senior of a designated high school is eligible to receive the scholarship and the recipients are determined by the local high school. In the past year, 23 scholarships were awarded at high schools located in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Charitable Contributions
Our employees are encouraged to give generously to charitable organizations and the Company supports their efforts through various Company-wide fundraising drives with matching gift programs. We also have a Charitable Contributions Committee that meets to effectively donate budgeted Company money to worthy causes having the most critical need. The Charitable Contributions Committee places priorities on human needs, health, education and the arts in allocating donations.
The Company and its employees have recently participated in charitable fundraising programs for United Way, American Heart Walk, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Ronald McDonald House, March of Dimes, YMCA and YWCA. We also contribute in our communities by buying animals in local live stock fairs to provide income to the students and then donate the animals to local charities.
The Company has played an active role in the restoration of historic buildings in Fort Worth. As a result, we received the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce in 2003.
