āI believe children need a safe, loving environment to learn and develop,ā said Sheila Ramirez, PPG, manager, Customer Service, Coatings and Sealants, Aerospace, Mojave. PPG's Mojave, California, manufacturing plant is in an impoverished community where Ramirezās tireless efforts benefit its children.
āIām blessed with eight very healthy and well cared for grandchildren and I want others to feel as special as my grandchildren do,ā said Ramirez. āThis requires resources above and beyond what the schools can provide. Thatās where PPG comes in.ā
Ramirez has worked closely with plant manager Edith Hayes and countless PPG volunteers to help children from Mojave Elementary and other underserved individuals who live nearby. In the past three years alone, she has had a hand in projects such as:
- A summer reading program and book drive
- A back-to-school resources drive
- A canned goods collection
- Holiday food and gift-card donations and a toy drive
- A Valentineās Day senior center āadoption,ā that included gifts of homemade cards, personal care items, craft supplies and food
- Hotel and grocery vouchers for homeless families during the pandemic
āDuring my 30 years with PPG,ā Ramirez noted in reflecting on the latter effort, āI was never more proud of my colleagues and their generosity.ā
Earlier, Hayes had formed a team to support the local community. āItās our duty to be good corporate citizens and offer a helping hand to those who have fallen on hard times,ā she said. āThe employees at our facility saw the tremendous need within our community and have done an outstanding job of attempting to fill the void.ā
Their endeavors are going a long way toward fulfilling a dream that Ramirez has to make the world a ātruly better place for children who might otherwise not have a fighting chance. They might not even know that someone cares.ā
Learn more about how PPG employees create positive impacts in the places they call home.