Mill Steel Company and D.A. Blodgett - St. John's Partner to Bring Big Brothers Big Sisters Workplace Mentorship Program to West Michigan
'Bigs in Business' Pilot Program Launches March 3 with 16 East Kentwood Freshman Students
'Bigs in Business' Pilot Program Launches March 3 with 16 East Kentwood Freshman Students
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- From the origins of the company, Mill Steel Co. has always had a deep rooted dedication to the communities in which they operate. D.A. Blodgett-St. John's is one of the special partnerships formed. Mill Steel has supported the agency's Big Brothers Big Sisters program for over 20 years. The relationship has recently blossomed into a new opportunity called Bigs in Business.
Bigs in Business is a workplace mentoring program that matches local students with employees. Mill Steel is the first company in the area to participate. The students are transported to the corporate office and have one on one time with their "Big" (a Mill Steel employee) to discuss educational and skill building activities, such as 'how to make a resume'.
"For the last 20 years Mill Steel has been an outstanding community partner and helped raised over $1.5 million dollars for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). Knowing their desire to serve the community, I knew they would be the perfect partner to pilot Bigs in Business with. We are grateful for their ongoing support and the difference they make in the lives of children," said Martha Boks, BBBS Manager.
Sixteen Mill Steel employees will be partnered with students from East Kentwood Freshman Campus. The students will visit Mill Steel every other week through May to learn skills that are required for workplace success, such as: reliability, problem solving, conscientiousness, and effective communication. Getting a first-hand look at what it's like to have a corporate job will help them understand what it takes to be successful.
Mill Steel Vice President, Sales, Pam Heglund, comments, "I believe this program will not only benefit the youth in our community, but also provide our company and associates with a true sense of pride in our outreach efforts. We are so excited to launch and look forward to continuing the partnership in the future."
One of the main purposes of this program and perhaps the most important, is forming genuine relationships with the littles. According to the U.S Department of Justice, youth are 5 times more likely to graduate high school if they have a meaningful relationship with an adult.
Other goals for the program include:
"We are extremely excited to be partnering with Mill Steel and their employees this Spring. Any time our students can be connected to the community and to positive adult role models, it has a significant impact on their lives. It is often difficult for our young students to see how their education translates into the real world and this experience will bring this to life for them. We are eager to see how this partnership grows in the future." – Dr. Michele Siderman, Principal East Kentwood Freshman Campus
About Mill Steel Co.:
Founded in 1959, Mill Steel Co. is one of North America's premier flat-rolled steel suppliers. Serving some of the world's most demanding industries; the business has grown over the past 50 years. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI, Mill Steel operates five service centers locations including: Grand Rapids and Melvindale (Detroit), MI, Jeffersonville, IN, Birmingham, AL, and now Anderson, IN. Mill Steel continues to grow by sticking to its founding principles: Reliability. Accountability. And doing what they say they will, and then some. We've organized our company around those values, investing in new technologies and markets along the way. For more information about Mill Steel Co., visit www.millsteel.com.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
About D.A. Blodgett – St. John's:
D.A. Blodgett – St. John's has been helping children and families in the community since 1887. The agency works in partnership with the community providing more than 20 comprehensive services to children and families. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Grand Rapids is a service of D.A. Blodgett – St. John's. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Grand Rapids has been a service of D.A. Blodgett – St. John's for over 50 years. For more information visit www.dabsj.org.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160208/330546LOGO
SOURCE Mill Steel Company
Share this article