Local Appliance Store Raises Over $2500 for Local Charity by Losing Weight

DENVER, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The local appliance company Appliance Factory Outlet chose an innovative way to raise money for the local charity Food Bank of the Rockies. They competed with each other to lose weight while raising money for Food Bank of the Rockies with each pound they lost.

From July 27, 2010 to September 24, 2010, nineteen employees at the corporate office of Appliance Factory Outlet competed to lose the most weight. Based on the total weight employees lost, Appliance Factory Outlet's CEO Chuck Ewing is donating $2300. In addition employees asked friends and family to sponsor them by donating money for each pound they lost. With the combined weight loss Appliance Factory Outlet raised a total of $2560.

"It's something I wanted to do personally," Appliance Factory COO Kevin Drako said. After joking with employees in the office about getting into better shape, Appliance Factory Outlet COO Kevin Drako came up with the idea for employees to not only challenge each other to lose weight, but to benefit others by raising money for the charity Food Bank of the Rockies.

According to Food Bank of the Rockies, 11.2 percent of people in Colorado live in poverty with 1 in 8 households suffering from food insecurity. According to the article Fighting Obesity in Colorado in the Denver Post, 19 percent of Colorado's population is considered obese, and Colorado's obesity rate has more than doubled since 1995, which is climbing faster than the rest of the country.

"We can do some good for someone in need… A win for everybody," Drako said.

Locally owned and operated since 1986, Appliance Factory Outlet sells directly to the public. Chuck Ewing, owner and CEO, has carved his niche in a market typically held by big box retailers. From its humble beginnings in a garage, Appliance Factory Outlet has grown into Colorado's largest and the nation's 34th largest independent appliance dealer. Appliance Factory Outlet operates 10 stores throughout Colorado.

SOURCE Appliance Factory Outlet