Columbus Chamber Blog: Information about economic development, economic and business trends, Columbus workforce, programs, events and the Chamber of Commerce in and around Columbus, OH

Member Spotlight: Recreation Unlimited Farm and Fun

Founded in 1958, Recreation Unlimited Farm and Fun is a 501©3 not-for profit organization serving individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and health concerns supported through the development efforts of the Recreation Unlimited Foundation.  The mission of Recreation Unlimited is to provide year-round programs in sports, recreation and education for individuals with disabilities and health concerns, while building self-confidence, self-esteem and promoting positive human relations, attitudes and behaviors. 

The organization has 12 full-time associates.  During the “peak” seasons of March through October, Recreation Unlimited hires up to an additional 125 seasonal associates consisting of counselors, program leaders, operations support and nurses in support of the Recreation Unlimited camp programs.  Recreation Unlimited relies significantly on the generosity of many dedicated benefactors through fund raising activities that include corporate sponsorships, special events, direct mail, grants, endowed scholarships, construction support and planned gifts and bequests.

Why We’re Chamber Members:

Recreation Unlimited serves individuals with disabilities and health concerns throughout central Ohio with the largest participation group coming from Franklin County.  As a not-for-profit 501(c) 3, Recreation Unlimited solicits funds for its camps and camper scholarship program with the largest emphasis from the Columbus business community.  By joining the Chamber, Recreation Unlimited wishes to maintain a connection with the local Columbus business community.

Fun Facts:

1. We are one of the largest providers in the state of Ohio for individuals with disabilities and health concerns in the area of sports, recreation and education.
2. We maintain a pristine 195-acre accessible campus with multiple buildings and program areas.
3. We serve 3,700 individuals with disabilities and health concerns on an annual basis.
4. Currently, we are in the process of working on a $13 million dollar building and endowment campaign, as we grow our camps and programs in support of individuals with disabilities and health concerns.
5. To date, we have accomplished building a new 20,000 square foot life center and a new 2,472 square foot aquatic playground, renovated our creative center and renovated our three residence halls.

Featured Product or Service:

Our accessible campus, which opened in 1989, served over 6,500 individuals in 2011. Of those served, 3,700 had disabilities and health concerns and 1,500 were served through the Recreation Unlimited Summer Residential, Winter Residential, Summer Day, Year Round Respite Weekend and specialty week long and weekend camps and programs.

Recreation Unlimited is an American Camp Association accredited camp, an Ohio Medicaid waiver provider and is licensed through the Delaware County Health Department to operate residential and day camps.

www.recreationunlimited.org

 

 

 

 

Member Spotlight: Crown Services, Inc.

                  

Crown Services, Inc. is a privately held, full service specialty staffing firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Currently, we operate in nine Midwestern states with more than 35 offices to choose from.

Why We’re Chamber Members  

We’re Chamber Members and Columbus Region Logistics Council members because we want to learn more about businesses in the Columbus area and we want to enhance the business community as a service provider. 

Fun Facts

• We are a certified Women’s Business Enterprise National Council company
• Our product is people
• We are a family-owned 44 year-old business
• Many of our non-family staff members have been with the company for more than 30 years

Featured Product or Service

• Staffing – finding the right people with the right skills to keep your company or organization running smoothly and productively
• Contracting – technical and management placements for a period of time
• Recruiting – searching for the executive, engineer or manager that will enjoy your company culture and have the talent you need
• Payroll Service – for those times when you don’t want to add to your headcount, either seasonally or for long term projects

http://www.crownservices.com/

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or connect with our staff on LinkedIn.

Member Spotlight: Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

About Our Company

The Dave Thomas Foundation works to provide foster care children with permanent homes. The foundation was started by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas, who was also adopted. Thomas passed away 10 years ago, but his legacy lives on through The Wendy’s Company and through the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

 

Why We’re Chamber Members

As a national nonprofit based in Central Ohio, we understand the value of connecting with our community.

Fun Facts About Our Company

• July 31 of this year will mark our 20^th year in service.
• We are the only national nonprofit public charity organization dedicated solely to finding homes for children in foster care.
• We have a very lean staff of only 14 who run all of our national, state and local initiatives, including fundraising, programs and awareness.
• We recently launched a new fundraising initiative: DTFA Kickball for a Home. The inaugural tournament was held in Columbus at Fred Beekman Park in October 2011. Companies and individuals can organize their own tournaments. Find more information about the fundraiser at dtfakickball.com.

Featured Product or Service

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, a signature program of the Foundation, awards grants to public and private adoption agencies. The grants go towards hiring adoption professionals who execute proactive, child-focused recruitment programs targeted exclusively at moving America’s longest-waiting children from foster care into adoptive families.

The Foundation recently released the results of a five-year research study on Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, which found that children in the program are up to three times more likely to get adopted. Curriculum is currently being developed in order to embed the program into foster care adoption best practices throughout the country.

For more information visit:

davethomasfoundation.org

wendyswonderfulkids.org

adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org

dtfakickball.org

 

Member Spotlight: ECOMAIDS

ECOMAIDS is Ohio's premier green cleaning company, providing eco-friendly cleaning services to homes and businesses throughout the Greater Columbus area. We use green seal certified cleaning solutions and methods, multi-level HEPA-filtered vacuums and microfiber tools and cloths. Our employees are screened, bonded and insured and trained in the most progressive green cleaning techniques.

Why We’re Chamber Members

We wanted to gain more exposure in the community and grow the business by attending Chamber events.

Fun Facts About ECOMAIDS

Our team looks at every job with a positive attitude, no matter how challenging. We try to make every day fun.

Featured Product or Service

Our products are our best feature. They are toxic free and safe for children, pets, your home and the environment.

www.ecomaids.com/columbus

Member Spotlight: MAPFRE Insurance

MAPFRE Insurance, a brand of American Commerce Insurance Company, has earned a reputation for providing exceptional personal lines vehicle and home insurance solutions to individuals around the country. We've listened very carefully to what customers want from an insurance company. We've learned how to gain their business and confidence, and how to keep it.

Why we’re Chamber Members:
As strong advocates of community involvement, becoming a Chamber member was a natural choice. We’ve been doing business in Columbus for more than 60 years and we take much pride in the capital city’s diverse culture and community-minded focus.

Fun Facts about MAPFRE Insurance:

• MAPFRE is the official sponsor of #1 ranked tennis star, Rafael Nadal.
• Globally, MAPFRE is represented in more than 40 countries.
• MAPFRE regularly partners with the Mall at Tuttle Crossing to host fun-filled events such as Auto Safety Day, Back-to-School and Welcome Home.
• Claim to Fame: In the early 90s, MAPFRE (then ACIC) replaced all of its furniture with Kimball Office furniture. The new look was so well received that Kimball used pictures of our offices in several trade magazines.
• Clif Murfin, founder, authored Murfin: An Autobiography, which tells the story of ACIC’s history, founded in 1946 and originally known as Auto Club Insurance Agency.

Featured Product or Service:

MAPFRE Insurance offers preferred auto, home and umbrella insurance products in addition to a variety of discounts such as multi-policy, homeowner, advanced shopping and more. Our Peace of Mind package option provides accident forgiveness and deductible credits up to $500.

Exceeding customer expectations is a core value infused throughout our organization. Superior service and caring attitudes have long been hallmarks of both our employees and agents. We strive to impress each customer with the quality and timeliness of our services by treating them as we wish to be treated, with courtesy and by name, not just by a policy number.

www.mapfreinsurance.com