On November 2, 2006, a fire destroyed Eastern Guilford High School outside of Greensboro, NC...a once Piedmont/USAir stronghold. A fire started in the chemistry lab. Luckily the students were evacuated and nobody was injured. The students are now spread out over two places in the county as temporary homes, splitting the student body apart. The new school is scheduled to be openned in 2010.
While I did not GO to Eastern Guilford, I went to Southeast Guilford, a sister school. I guess because of the proximity, my heart really went out to the students, teachers, parents, alumni, and the entire community. A school burning down is a rare experience and all I could think about was the lives of the students and how disruptive their lives have now become, ESPECIALLY the seniors. Folks, almost EVERYTHING that didn't make it out (files) was destroyed. Only memories remain.
I feel in times like these, major corperations should be good stewards of the community. In the case of a company like US Airways, the arms of her community run from Hawaii to Europe. Not only is this great PR, but the RIGHT thing to do.
OR I THOUGHT!!
I decided to write the company about what happened and how wonderful it would be to either donate money for their eventual new library or perhaps do something special for the seniors, considering their senior year has pretty much been disrupted at best. The following was the response I got:
"I was forwarded the email below and wanted to respond to your request. While I commend you on wanting to do something to assist the students, budget constraints and limited resources prevent us from being able to provide the assistance you are requesting. I hope you have a great day."
HUM......Does this mean no ride to the North Pole event that is provided at LGA every Christmas? We spend "resources" for decorations, refreshments, gate space, and an airplane that rides around the taxiway wasting fuel at over $60 a gallon. Oh, I forgot, it's the children.
Also, we really have the "resourse" to make 35,000 I MAKE US FLY pins that few even picked up?
I responded that the answer was unacceptable as the company would write the items off at the end of the year. Then I made the mistake of suggesting that the results would had been different had the fire burned down a local PHX school. The response?
"I assure you the same answer would have been given if a local PHX school had been affected"
Both respones were from Julie (didnt feel I should give a last name).
I find it amazing that the focus was on the last part of my response and nothing about the fact that it's now the end of the year and US Airways would be writing off a slew of items.
Now I know what many of you are thinking. We DON'T have alot of money and we can't give out to everyone that ask. but we are not talking about an everyday tragedy. How many times have we heard of a school burning down? I can think of 0!!
When I received these emails, I don't know which I felt the most...disappointment, anger or just plain embarrassment for a company that DOES have the "resourses" and hides behind the curtain of budget constraints to justify poor community stewardship. While one should never give to receive back, the amazing PR US Airways would had gotten throughout the Carolina's was lost again by the power of the uncaring bean counters of the new US Airways.
For what it's worth, here is a link if any of the common little folk have the "resources" to give or for those who don't have budget constraints. Oh, remember your gift is tax deductible...something MARKETING or whoever the heck is in charge in Tempe forgot.
Eastern Guilford High School Fire
How To Help Eastern Guilford
While I did not GO to Eastern Guilford, I went to Southeast Guilford, a sister school. I guess because of the proximity, my heart really went out to the students, teachers, parents, alumni, and the entire community. A school burning down is a rare experience and all I could think about was the lives of the students and how disruptive their lives have now become, ESPECIALLY the seniors. Folks, almost EVERYTHING that didn't make it out (files) was destroyed. Only memories remain.
I feel in times like these, major corperations should be good stewards of the community. In the case of a company like US Airways, the arms of her community run from Hawaii to Europe. Not only is this great PR, but the RIGHT thing to do.
OR I THOUGHT!!
I decided to write the company about what happened and how wonderful it would be to either donate money for their eventual new library or perhaps do something special for the seniors, considering their senior year has pretty much been disrupted at best. The following was the response I got:
"I was forwarded the email below and wanted to respond to your request. While I commend you on wanting to do something to assist the students, budget constraints and limited resources prevent us from being able to provide the assistance you are requesting. I hope you have a great day."
HUM......Does this mean no ride to the North Pole event that is provided at LGA every Christmas? We spend "resources" for decorations, refreshments, gate space, and an airplane that rides around the taxiway wasting fuel at over $60 a gallon. Oh, I forgot, it's the children.
Also, we really have the "resourse" to make 35,000 I MAKE US FLY pins that few even picked up?
I responded that the answer was unacceptable as the company would write the items off at the end of the year. Then I made the mistake of suggesting that the results would had been different had the fire burned down a local PHX school. The response?
"I assure you the same answer would have been given if a local PHX school had been affected"
Both respones were from Julie (didnt feel I should give a last name).
I find it amazing that the focus was on the last part of my response and nothing about the fact that it's now the end of the year and US Airways would be writing off a slew of items.
Now I know what many of you are thinking. We DON'T have alot of money and we can't give out to everyone that ask. but we are not talking about an everyday tragedy. How many times have we heard of a school burning down? I can think of 0!!
When I received these emails, I don't know which I felt the most...disappointment, anger or just plain embarrassment for a company that DOES have the "resourses" and hides behind the curtain of budget constraints to justify poor community stewardship. While one should never give to receive back, the amazing PR US Airways would had gotten throughout the Carolina's was lost again by the power of the uncaring bean counters of the new US Airways.
For what it's worth, here is a link if any of the common little folk have the "resources" to give or for those who don't have budget constraints. Oh, remember your gift is tax deductible...something MARKETING or whoever the heck is in charge in Tempe forgot.
Eastern Guilford High School Fire
How To Help Eastern Guilford
