Matco Tools of Lakewood recently started a campaign to raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
According to Brooke Colley, design engineer for Matco Tools, the program started at an annual event hosted by Matco Tools that involved about 1,400 of their distributors.
"While at the event we had a donation for a pink toolbox, and in about a day we raised more than $20,000," said Colley.
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But, the donations didn't stop there. Hearing of the success of the event, Danaher Corp., owner of Matco Tools, matched the funds to make the donation more than $40,000.
"Matco Tools realized that there was a big calling to donate to Susan G. Komen for the Cure," said Colley. "So, since then we've been working on continuing the program, and we thought since we're a tool company that Tools for the Cause would be appropriate. "
Tools for the Cause aims to raise funds through a program that allows patrons to purchase a selection of products in which 15 percent of the cost is donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The program offers a guaranteed minimum donation of $100,000. For a listing of products visit www.matcotools.com/toolsforcause.
The campaign will also feature a giveaway with the goal of raising $10,000. The community can purchase tickets for $2 that gives them a chance at winning prizes. There are three prizes available and they include: one pink 4225R toolbox, one JSC750 pink toolbox, and a gift basket containing a pink toolbox bank, a pink screwdriver set and a pink flashlight.
"The first prize, a 4225R toolbox is our best-seller, and it retails for $4,685," said Colley. "The second prize, the JSC750 retails for $1,640. The third prize gift basket contains three of the items we're selling for the campaign with a retail of $256. These are heavy duty-toolboxes that we make, so it was a logical choice for us to give away items that lots of people want. We felt that this was the best way we could try to make a difference."
Tickets for the giveaway will be on sale until Nov. 1, and are available at the front desk of Matco Tools, 160 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood, from associates of Matco Tools, Boomerang Restaurant in Busti, Sandee's Bakery in Falconer, and Cafe in the Riverwalk Center in Jamestown. The winners will be announced on Nov. 2.
"We found that almost everyone who donated had some sort of story where they or a family member had been touched by breast cancer," said Colley. "Everyone out there has been touched by it, so we really feel like it helps a lot of people. I think we can make a difference by all working together."
For more information visit www.info-komen.org/goto/toolboxesforthecause or call 763-8525 ext. 2248.