FONA International was presented with the annual Sandy Trowbridge Award for Excellence in Community Service by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).
NAM awarded FONA with a $5,000 donation to FONA's community partner of choice, CASA Kane County. The Trowbridge Award honors a NAM member company that has shown exemplary leadership in serving its community or state and is an example of the giving spirit of our nation's manufacturers and businesses. FONA donates an average of 19% post-tax profit each year to help its neighbors and build connections within the community through organizations such as the Northern Illinois Food Bank, DayOne Network, Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice and Riverwoods Family Campus/Riverworks Life Skills Outreach. In addition, the company actively supports local schools, community groups and organizations through its Discover FONA community education program, which features tours, demonstrations, speakers and access to facility and staff.
"I'm so proud of our people for the work they do in our community," said Joseph Slawek, the company's founder, chairman and CEO. "Generosity is at the core of who we are, and it is so fulfilling to see us living this principle with our neighbors and really having an impact on the lives of people in need. Generosity never reduces profitability. It creates the environment of abundance necessary for profitability to exist."
The Trowbridge Award is named after the late Alexander B. "Sandy" Trowbridge, former secretary of Commerce who served as president of the NAM from 1979 to 1989. Trowbridge was known for his leadership on behalf of manufacturing and for his strong commitment to community service.