Cornerstone Staffing Solutions, a commercial staffing company with branches across the United States, has recently donated $12,500 to Ponte Vedra, Florida-based K9s For Warriors. The monies were raised during a National Safety Month contest held company-wide during the month of June. Along with the monetary donation, one of Cornerstone’s clients offered to donate a Labrador puppy to the charity’s Service Dog Program. This was the first year, of hopefully many more years, that Cornerstone has worked with K9s For Warriors.

As part of Cornerstone’s corporate social responsibility program, Cornerstone Cares, employees focus their energies on augmenting the intentions of Cornerstone’s mission, vision and values. Creating something bigger than them, they support their communities and causes through charitable giving and volunteerism. In recognition of National Safety Month, Central Regional Director Brenda Self and Director of Insurance and Risk Management Anissa G. Wieck collaborated on a safety contest for the employees coupled with a charitable component that would support K9s For Warriors – an organization dedicated to providing service canines to warriors suffering from post-traumatic stress disability, and/or traumatic brain injury as a result of military service post 9/11.

“Our company felt National Safety Month was a perfect time to highlight the strong safety culture at Cornerstone, while raising money for a great organization,” stated Brenda Self, Central Regional Director. “The Super Hero Staff event incorporated many day-to-day tasks that highlighted and focused on the safety of our staff and temporary workers. A point system was created that allowed staff at all levels within the organization and in every office location to accumulate points.  These points equated to a dollar value that Cornerstone then donated to K9s For Warriors. Cornerstone Staffing Solutions wanted to give back to the brave soldiers that have kept us safe.”

Cornerstone’s customers were also informed of the safety initiative to reinforce Cornerstone’s commitment to workplace safety. Self comments, “What happened next was truly heartwarming. Jill Hajdu, an Accounts Payable/Staff Accountant at Avon Automotive in Cadillac, MI who was placed in her job by Cornerstone, operates C.L Labradors.  Hajdu had been looking for a program like K9s For Warriors and offered to donate a puppy from a recent litter. Cornerstone facilitated the conversations between her and K9s For Warriors to determine if the dog would be a match for the program, and he was.”

“We are so grateful for all the support from Cornerstone Staffing Solutions,” said Rory Diamond, Executive Director for K9s For Warriors.  “Their month-long safety contest not only helped raised funds that will be put toward our life-saving program, it also raised tremendous awareness.  The immediate effect of that was receiving the Labrador puppy from Hajdu. And with their substantial financial contribution, they are truly doing all they can to be part of the solution to help stop twenty two veterans suicides that occur every single day.”

“Coming from a large family rich in military service, I was raised to be appreciative and grateful for what our military does for us,” said Hajdu. “I’m so privileged to be part of this experience and look forward to an ongoing partnership with Cornerstone and K9s For Warriors.”

The dog had to be transported by vehicle from Northern Michigan to Northern Florida to ensure that his arrival into the program was a happy event for him. Hajdu has experience with animal transports but generally for shorter distances. A Cornerstone employee called his former employer, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, to secure a discounted rate on a rental. Cornerstone covered the cost of the rental car and gas and Jill’s hotel expenses for her round trip were donated by her company.

“We often invite our customers to join us in our Cornerstone Cares endeavors, yet we never anticipated this particular response,” says Steven Drexel, Cornerstone Staffing Solutions president and CEO. “At Cornerstone, social good is at the heart of our business and we take corporate social responsibility very seriously. Our volunteer time is not charity, it’s simply dedication to serving those in our communities who need a hand.”

More about K9s For Warriors

K9s For Warriors is dedicated to providing service canines to warriors suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disability, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post 9/11. Their goal is to give a new leash on life to rescue dogs and military heroes, empowering warriors to return to civilian life with dignity and independence.     

Learn more at: www.K9sforwarriors.org or visit www.facebook.com/K9sforwarriors for regular updates.