Parkson Employees Lead Record Charity Drive

Parkson Corporation and its employees have raised more than $64,000 in charitable donations, the highest amount ever for the company’s annual giving campaign.

The 2011 donations will go to benefit four organizations chosen by Parkson employees: Water for People, the American Red Cross, Engineers Without Borders and the American Cancer Society.

The outpouring of support from Parkson team members helped propel the successful charity drive, which drew pledges from two-thirds of all company employees and resulted in nearly half of all donations.

“In an economic environment that has left many charitable organizations with shortfalls in donations, our employees have donated more than ever to the four special organizations they have chosen to support,” said Parkson Vice President Mark Turpin, who chaired the 2011 charity drive.

To make the drive a success, Parkson matches all employee contributions, and it sponsors events at its offices in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Vernon Hills, IL. Suppliers also are invited to make donations as well.

“At Parkson, we try to harness the caring nature that already exists within our team members, and help channel it toward the community where we live and work,” said Parkson CEO Zain Mahmood.

In addition to the financial support, Parkson employees donated 418 hours of volunteer work to charities in South Florida this year. One key recipient of those efforts was the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, in which Parkson employees have participated for the past three years.