2003 Michigan Retailer of the Year Awardscontinued from page 1
“The Retailer of the Year Awards provide the opportunity
to honor the best of the best,” said Larry Meyer, chairman and CEO
of the Michigan Retailers Association, which founded and sponsors the
awards program. “The award recipients represent the thousands of
retailers across the state who make a difference in their communities
through their countless charitable and volunteer activities.” Emcee Dave Scott, of event cosponsor Michigan Talk Radio
Network, asked the attendees to consider the impact of everyday retailers’
community contributions. “How many little leaguers and other young
athletes wouldn’t have had the chance to play sports if it weren’t
for the teams sponsored by local retailers? “How many high school plays wouldn’t have been
held? How many needy kids wouldn’t have been able to go to camp?
How many charitable events would never have taken place?” asked Scott. “The answer, of course, is that it’s the active
involvement of retailers that enhances the quality of life in every community
across this state.”
Awards are given in three categories—small, medium
and large—based on annual sales volume. An independent panel composed
of leaders in business, government, higher education, non-profit organizations
and the news media selects the recipients. The awards program, now in its sixth year, is cosponsored
by Michigan Newspapers, Inc., the Michigan Press Association affiliate
that represents 300 daily and weekly newspapers in Michigan, and Michigan
Talk Radio Network, which provides programming services to stations throughout
the state. The following descriptions of the 2003 Michigan Retailer of the Year recipients illustrate their exceptional commitment to serving their communities: Small
(less than $2 million
in annual sales)
Cooper & Binkley Jewelers has put a lot of bounce
into the Brighton community through its active sponsorship of youth team
jump roping. Its involvement includes major sponsorship of the Brighton
Bouncing Bulldogs, a United States Amateur Jump Rope Federation team for
which Barbara coaches and serves as treasurer, fundraiser and marketing
director. The youth team qualified for the national tournament in Orlando,
Florida, and hosted the multi-state regional qualifying tournament for
the 2003 Junior Olympic The team also performs free of charge for many organizations,
including senior citizens groups and community festivals, and is helping
other communities establish jump rope programs to provide children with
healthy alternatives to watching television and playing video games. The
jewelers sponsor a local elementary school's jump rope club as well. In addition, Cooper & Binkley raises money and community support for the Arc of Livingston, an agency serving persons with developmental disabilities. The store is the major sponsor of the Arc's annual Celebrity Holiday Fashion Show Charity Benefit. It also supports numerous area youth programs, and the Binkleys are involved in a wide range of civic and community endeavors. Medium
($2 million-$20 million)
Roxann Scotella says that when it comes to charitable
support, she believes in chain reactions: “If I help one person who
then helps another, then a chain has started and it’s hard to break
the chain.” Pat Scott Jewelers has worked to build chains through its generous support, both direct contributions to organizations and donations of jewelry for fundraising events, for the Children’s Home of Detroit, National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology and many other local and national organizations, schools and hospitals. The company is a major supporter of Children’s Home of Detroit, which helps children from the Detroit area, many of whom have disabilities and come from broken families or have parents who are abusive or addicted to drugs or alcohol.
A longtime supporter of civic and charitable programs
in the Detroit area, Saks Fifth Avenue has raised more than $100,000 for
the Josephine Ford Cancer Center through its “Key to the Cure”
event the past three years. The event centers on a weekend of shopping events, in
which 2 percent of sales are donated directly to the Center. Several other
activities and special parties also provide opportunities for direct contributions.
The company’s work has helped the Center purchase
state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and create new patient outreach
programs. For her efforts in promoting and strengthening this fundraising
effort, Ms. Nye was awarded the Henry Ford Health System’s “Humanitarian
of the Year” award at the October 2002 event launching the Nathanson-Rands
Breast Cancer Research Endowment. Saks also is a dedicated fundraiser for the Detroit Institute of Arts, Oakland University and Meadow Brook Hall, Oakland Family Services, HAVEN, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Cranbrook Schools, Make-a-Wish Foundation and Karmanos Cancer Institute. It frequently brings in top fashion designers and collections to ensure successful community and fundraising events.
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Three
Michigan retail companies—Cooper & Binkley Jewelers in Brighton,
Pat Scott Jewelers in Grosse Pointe Woods and Saks Fifth Avenue in Troy—are
the 2003 Michigan Retailers of the Year. They were honored for their outstanding
community involvement at the Retailer of the Year Awards luncheon on October
14 in Lansing.
In
a refreshing break from tradition, attendees were also treated to a lively
performance by the Brighton Bulldogs, a competitive jump rope team sponsored
by honoree Cooper & Binkley Jewelers and coached by Barb Binkley.
The energetic young jumpers demonstrated the power of contributing one’s
talents to the community.
