Canine Partners for Life service dogs Merry & Dagny visit NPC
NPC welcomes a pair of unexpected visitors for an afternoon meeting
Merry and Dagny are not customers, business partners, or vendors; they are yellow Labrador service dogs in training in the Canine Partners for Life program at the State Correctional Institute of Somerset. At the time of the visit, Merry was 15 months old and Dagny was only 10 weeks.
Dog trainers Kathy Bell and Jeff Nagle brought Merry and Dagny to NPC on January 11 to share a little about the benefits of the Canine Partners program and how it thrives at SCI-Somerset.
Following the presentation, which was attended by more than 30 NPC employees who were happy for the opportunity to interact with the dogs, a check for over $400 was given to Kathy and Jeff to help support the program at SCI-Somerset.
The donation was a result of the fundraising efforts of our Government Sales team — Esther Alvarez, Jim Conway, Ed Detwiler, Bruce Gochnour, Annette Latoche, Lori Negley, Frank Swalga and David Zajdel — as part of the company’s 2016 Christmas Tree Decorating Contest that generated over $4,000 in total donations for area food banks and non-profit organizations.
“It’s amazing what these dogs can do,” said Kathy, who worked as a counselor and housing unit manager for 18 years at SCI-Somerset before retiring.
Canine Partners for Life, based in Cochranville, PA, has been dedicated to training service dogs, home companion dogs, and residential companion dogs for over 25 years. These dogs assist individuals who have a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities. CPL is funded entirely by donations.
So, how does an inmate become a puppy handler?
“There are stringent criteria to be a puppy handler,” Kathy said. “Inmates have to have good conduct and maintain good conduct.”
SCI-Somerset became a good fit for training service dogs because inmates have 24/7 access to take care of these dogs. SCI-Somerset first partnered with CPL in 2015. For more, read The Tribune-Democrat’s article SCI-Somerset inmates train future service dogs.
Jeff has been a volunteer in the Canine Partners program since early 2016. He is part of the IT staff at SCI-Somerset.
“It really is a win-win situation for everybody involved,” said Jeff, whose wife, Esther, works at NPC and was part of the Government Sales team that made the donation. “We have 21 handlers (at SCI-Somerset) right now and we have six dogs.”
For more information about the Canine Partners for Life program, visit www.k94life.org.
[VIDEO] Canine Partners for Life: Making the Miracle of Independence Possible
Employees raise level of holiday support for area food banks & non-profits in 2016
Annual Christmas Tree Decorating Contest generates nearly $4,000 in donations
In the spirit of giving, employees at NPC participated in an annual Christmas Tree Decorating Contest to give back by supporting area food banks and non-profit organizations.
In 2016, a total of 17 departments participated in this year’s contest which generated over 500 food items and nearly $4,000 that was distributed to area food banks and other local chapters of non-profit organizations.
Additionally, each participating department designated a charity to support and the company then made an additional monetary donation to that charity in the department’s name. This year’s selected charities included (some departments selected the same charity to support):
LDC Fund (NPC charitable fund in honor of the late Leroy D. Corbin, an employee who lost his life in a car accident in January 2012)- Ronald McDonald House Charities – Mid-Penn Region
- Child Advocates of Blair County
- Christmas Carol Foundation
- Semper Fi Fund
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Team Talan
- Bedford Humane Society
- Scarlet Dragon Packs
- Love, INC (Bedford County)
- The ARC, Blair County
- SCI Somerset Puppy Program
- Mending Hearts
Each participating department decorated a Christmas tree to display in their area of the company. After a few weeks of collecting canned goods or non-perishable food items and monetary contributions, the donations are collected and counted, then distributed to area food banks and non-profit organizations.
NPC has been an integral part of the Blair County business community since 1954, and supports numerous charitable organizations throughout the region.
Michael Hileman represents NPC in Leadership Blair County’s Class of 2016
Understanding how to become a better leader and ambassador
NPC’s Michael Hileman was part of the 24-person Leadership Blair County graduating Class of 2016. Graduation ceremonies were held June 9 at The Casino at Lakemont Park in Altoona, PA. This year marked the 22nd annual LBC class.
Michael, the manager of NPC’s document processing division and an employee since 2002, joined a long list of NPC employees who have benefitted from the experience of participating in the Leadership Blair County program. “I had the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people as well as learn of the multitude of service organizations located in Blair County.
“First and foremost, I was hoping to gain a better understanding of how I could become a better leader and ambassador of our organization in our community,” Michael explained. “Knowing that the class is made up of 24 different individuals, I was anxious to learn what leadership meant to them and how they are involved in their communities.”
NPC helps Ronald McDonald House Charities® Mid-Penn Region Golf Outing raise over $34,000
Danville Ronald McDonald House® Executive Director speaks at event
When the family scheduled to speak at this year’s Ronald McDonald House Charities® Mid-Penn Region’s 24th Annual Golf Outing had to cancel just days before this year’s event, the coordinating committee turned to a familiar face in the Pennsylvania RMHC community.
Michael Turlis, Executive Director at Ronald McDonald House® of Danville, quickly rearranged a few things on his schedule and gladly accepted a last-minute invitation to speak at this year’s event.
“The Mid-Penn Region has been really great to the Danville Ronald McDonald House and we have a wonderful working relationship with them, so when they reached out and asked if someone would be available to speak at their event, we said yes,” explained Turlis, who made the 2-plus hour drive from Danville to central Pennsylvania that morning. “We did whatever we could to be there for them because they’ve done so much for us.”
Turlis addressed a crowd of nearly 150 golfers following this year’s Golf Outing on June 13, 2016 at Scotch Valley Country Club in Hollidaysburg, PA. This year’s RMHC Mid-Penn Region golf event raised over $34,000 for children and their families.
“I’m a firm believer that if you’re blessed, you should give back,” added Turlis, who has been part of the RMHC organization for over 20 years. “Everyone at the event was very welcoming. They talk to you like they’ve known you for years… that made me feel right at home.”
NPC served as the event’s major corporate sponsor once again, and was represented on the golf course by owner and CEO Mark Barnhart, Juqua Parker, Don Knisely and Brad Houseknecht. NPC was represented by two other teams: Mike Langer, Carey Dicken, Al Gorman and Don Wolfhome made up one team, while Eric Burket, Chet Piper and Curt Piper formed the other entry.
NPC’s Frank Swalga is a member of the RMHC Mid-Penn Region Golf Outing coordinating committee.
“We really appreciate Michael stepping in as our speaker on such short notice,” Swalga said. “We have found that even though our golfers have a great time on an excellent golf course for a good cause, the stories of the people touched by RMHC is what sticks with them and brings them back each year.”
Employees support area food banks, charities through annual Christmas Tree Decorating Contest
Annual company-wide Christmas Tree Decorating Contest and food drive generates more than 800 food items and nearly $1,400
Despite all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, taking time to give back is very important for the employees at NPC, Inc.
In 2015, the annual company-wide Christmas Tree Decorating Contest and food drive generated more than 800 food items and nearly $1,400 that was donated to five area food pantries — Claysburg Area Food Bank, Roaring Spring Food Pantry, Martinsburg Food Pantry, St. Vincent DePaul Society and Through, Inc.
Instead of a typical canned food drive, NPC takes a different approach. A total of 18 departments participated in the annual contest, where each decorates a Christmas tree to display in their area of the company. After a few weeks of employee voting — where one canned good or non-perishable food item, or monetary donation, is counted as a vote — the department with the most combined food and monetary donations is declared the winner.
NPC’s Human Resources department collected the most votes in 2015. Each participating department also designates a charity to support and the company then makes an additional monetary donation to that charity in the department’s name.
NPC ranks 12th on Best Places to Work in PA for 2015
NPC makes list for 8th straight year
NPC, Inc. was recognized as the No. 12 organization in the large-sized company category (250 or more employees) at the Best Places to Work in PA for 2015 awards banquet December 3 at the Lancaster County Convention Center. Barry Barnhart, a long-time employee who currently works in NPC’s shipping department, accepted the 2015 award for the company.
NPC has made the list for eight straight years and was awarded our highest ranking (No. 3) in 2012.
“We sincerely appreciate our employees’ collective efforts and support in making NPC a truly great place to work,” said NPC owner and Chairman of the Board Mark Barnhart.
The Best Places to Work in PA list is split into two groups: 26 large-sized companies with more than 250 employees and 74 small/medium-sized organizations with 25-250 employees.
This survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places to be employed in Pennsylvania, benefitting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses. The complete list and rankings of Best Places to Work in PA for 2015 can be found on the Team PA Foundation and the Central Penn Business Journal websites.
Supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities® at 23rd Annual Golf Outing
For the second straight year, the RMHC Mid-Penn Region golf event raises more than $30,000 for children and their families
A loud roar of applause erupted as Jennifer Weyant addressed a crowd of nearly 150 golfers following the Ronald McDonald House Charities® Mid-Penn Region’s 23rd Annual Golf Outing on June 8, 2015 at Iron Masters Country Club in Roaring Spring, PA.
Jennifer wasn’t announcing the winning team or a hole-in-one — far from it. She was telling the story of how she and husband A.J., who was holding their 8-month-old son Jacob at the time, were able to be with their son while he spent the early stages of his life in a Pittsburgh hospital.
Jacob, who was born almost 3 months premature in October 2014, needed to spend a total of 76 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh to address neurological issues and other complications stemming from his early birth. During that time, the Weyant family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Pittsburgh to remain close to their son. Just before Christmas, Jacob was cleared to come home where he could be with his older brother Noah, then just 2 1/2 years old.
“We try to focus on the things that we do have, and are thankful for them,” said Jennifer, Jacob’s mom and this year’s event spokesperson. “He’s a happy baby. We’ll just continue to work through things as he gets older. Our journey is just beginning.”
For the second straight year, the RMHC Mid-Penn Region golf outing raised more than $30,000 for children and their families, just like the Weyants. NPC, Inc. served as the event’s major corporate sponsor once again.
So why does NPC continue to support this event?