A Madison Heights-based shelving company is helping college students continue their education.
Shelving Inc. provides shelving and storage solutions for customers nationwide. It also provides scholarships to college students, among numerous other community outreach programs.
The company recently announced the three winners of its fourth annual scholarship program. More than 300 people applied.
There was a concentrated effort this year to appeal to Michigan students. The company reached out to several Michigan colleges and universities to better connect local students with the opportunity.
"It was great to meet the winners in person and shake their hands and hand them the checks," says Shelving Inc. CEO Joe Schodowski.
"You could see in their faces how grateful they were."
Brontae Williams from The College for Creative Studies won the $1,500 scholarship, Calvin Calloway of Wayne State University won the $1,000 scholarship, and Oluwafunmilola Akinyemi of The University of North Texas won the $500 scholarship.
While there is no specific theme for the scholarships, Schodowski says that the company looks for students that are the first from their families to attend college or have overcome significant obstacles to getting there in the first place.
"I believe that if you’re able to help, and not even help, but to take action, then you can’t just sit on the sidelines and watch things go by," Schodowski says.
"There's a lot more to life than money."
It’s a philosophy the company backs up with action. Among its many community service programs, Shelving Inc. donates ten percent of its annual profits to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. They also hold a number of annual event-driven fundraisers for the Capuchin Ministries programs and Soup Kitchen. Shelving Inc. donates both money and supplies to veterans, people transitioning out of homelessness, and foster children.
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