For the past several years, Carol Fontanez, rental manager at Jamco Inc in North Orlando, Fla., and her team have been finding ways to benefit their community.
They have used the traditional methods — offering extensive discounts for forklift rentals to nonprofit organizations — and have taken a more unique approach — “adopting” a road in Sanford and making sure it stays clean and free of litter.
This year, the team wanted to do something even bigger. We knew we could do something more,” Fontanez says.
After discussions with her assistant, Kaitlyn Ocker, the foundation of a plan was formed. Ocker suggested reaching out to the American Cancer Society. Since Jamco sells rents and services forklifts, Fontanez suggested painting one of its 5,000lbs Doosan Pneumatic forklifts pink and having a portion of the rentals of that forklift benefit breast cancer research.
“This made perfect sense. Everybody knows someone who has been affected by cancer. Cancer runs in my family. We decided to benefit breast cancer because this is a very common form of cancer and some of our staff members have been personally impacted by this disease,” Fontanez says.
The next step was to approach her boss, Tim Jamal, vice president of Jamco Inc. “I was immediately intrigued. My mom is in remission from ovarian cancer. I thought this was a wonderful way to help a good cause and it will definitely draw attention. I see it as a win-win for everyone,” he says.
With Jamal’s blessing, Fontanez shared the idea with others in her department. “Everyone has gotten behind it, our service manager took over and made sure the Doosan G25P was ready for display at the American Cancer Society’s Oct. 29 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk/run in Orlando. Fontanez and several of her rental team members participated in the event.
15% of rental revenue earned will go directly to the American Cancer Society for research to fight breast cancer.
