ARC wins hurricane protection from Storm Smart’s ‘We Care’ voting
When the community is good to you, it is time to give back to the community.
That’s the philosophy of Storm Smart Industries owner Brian Risk, who recently visited the Animal Refuge Center to award the organization with free hurricane protection, as this month’s winner of the company’s “We Care Program” contest.
Voters are invited to weigh in with votes on the company’s website for who they think is most worthy of winning free hurricane-proofing windows and services. The program goes throughout Hurricane Season, June through November, and generally profiles individuals and families on the site. But when ARC was entered with the message, “Animals need protection, too,” Risk said, “When word got out we were considering ARC, the voting lit up.”
His national and international company started in Fort Myers and is headquartered there. “Southwest Florida has been very good to us, and I feel as a business owner it is important to give back especially in this community, and in these economic times.”
“The original nomination letter was written by Kimberly Harper, and created a firestorm of support,” said ARC’s Treasurer Betty Hughes. “Support came from the Storm Smart Industries website and our own Facebook friends. The power of the Internet is just amazing.”
Hurricane protection will be specifically for ARC’s Triage Center, the organization’s medical facility.
“It is the final piece of the puzzle for our disaster recovery plan,” said Hughes. ARC’s Gribble K-9 Training Center was built hurricane proof when funds were donated for that building.
“As the largest no-kill shelter in the state, it is essential that our treatment center remain intact during a storm. This will allow us to not only care for our animals, but it would place us in a position to help the community at large.”
North Fort Myers based ARC houses approximately 500 animals, a no kill shelter supported by numerous individuals throughout Southwest Florida.
Storm Smart Industries Risk said this program is one the favorite parts of his job as that business owner. “We look at the stories,” said Risk of the many nominees. “One past winner was a family who had premature triplets, with the father a firefighter and the mother a teacher.”
The father, he said, would be a key player in an emergency, away from his family, with one less worry knowing his home would have hurricane protection.
“Another was a widow on Pine Island who trusted the wrong people to do her hurricane shutters. They took the money and ran.”
He said the goal of the program is to help people. “We see many nominations of people worthy of help.” You can look on the company’s website for more compelling stories, he said.
“I’m happy and proud to do this,” he said of awarding contest winners. “It is actually part of our corporate culture of giving. Many of the installers donate their time to winners as well.”
Storm Smart Industries Marketing Director Jennifer Peak held an ARC puppy named Woody, who was being groomed for adoption while she talked about her company. “It really makes me feel good working for Brian and Storm Smart, being part of a team that does give back.”
The Animal Refuge Center of Fort Myers is a not-for-profit animal welfare society dedicated to stopping the escalating cost to impound, care for, kill and dispose of dogs and cats dying for no reason other than having been born, said Hughes. ARC is a non-euthanasia organization. Not only does ARC protect and save many hundreds of animals, but ARC also has an indoor training program to help train and rehabilitate animals so, they are more attractive to a potential adopter.
To learn more about ARC, visit animalrefuge.com.
To view more entries for the contest, go to stormsmart.com.