Doing Good
Peachtree Corners Business Association donates $3500 to Spectrum Autism
Published
5 months agoon
The Peachtree Corners Business Association awarded a check for $3,500 to Spectrum Autism Support Group at their December Business After Hours Speaker Series and Year End Holiday Celebration event.
Established in 1998, Spectrum Autism Support Group provides support, education and resources for individuals and families impacted by autism. The organization currently serves over 1,500 families in Gwinnett County and the surrounding metro Atlanta area and has become a well-known resource in the autism community.
Support group meetings, summer day camps, overnight camps, social skills groups, respite, community training and family events are offered for all ages and abilities.
“The PCBA is proud to donate a check for $3,500 to Claire Dees, executive director and co-founder of Spectrum Autism Support Group and the Spectrum Autism Support Group board in support of their efforts to improve the lives of individuals and families impacted by autism,” said Lisa Proctor, PCBA president.
“Our PCBA board members are impressed with Spectrum Autism’s commitment to provide support to the autism community through their many programs, events and resources. With the PCBA’s continuous commitment to supporting our community in a meaningful way, we are excited to be a small part of their efforts,” she continued.
A tradition of giving
The PCBA has donated $170,000+ to local deserving charities and awarded 19 scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors in the metro Atlanta community since the inception of their community outreach program.
Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorships and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded at PCBA’s monthly events, so their members have the opportunity to learn more about the organizations they are supporting.
“Where businesses come to grow”
The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches, programs, shared resources, community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect, develop, grow and prosper.
The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types who want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area.
For more information visit peachtreecornersba.com.
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Doing Good
Vox-Pop-Uli Launches RED Initiative for Veterans’ Support
Published
2 weeks agoon
May 28, 2025Like most Americans, the Hajduk family is grateful for the safety and service military personnel provide.
“Veterans causes and military support is something that’s very near and dear to me and [my wife] Cindy personally,” said Andrew Hajduk, owner of Vox-pop-uli, a Peachtree Corners marketing production company. “As parents, and business owners, my family is [tied to the] military.”
Both Hajduk’s father and his older son Daniel, who is also the company’s client development manager, are veterans. Daniel Hajduk served in the Navy. His younger son, Steven is currently serving in the Navy on board the USS Carl Vinson.
“I think that we’ve gotten away from pride in military service and things like that,” said Hajduk. “But now I think it’s coming back.”
With the remnants of the COVID pandemic finally disappearing, he said he’s noticing more companies bringing people back to work.
“Companies are working on their brand and finding their identity, and we really wanted to help them support their causes,” he said. “We live in a great country, and we don’t do nearly enough to recognize these men and women [in the military]. We just wanted to raise awareness for those kids that are out there serving.”
Red Shirt Friday
While Vox-pop-uli was doing business with Aaron’s, it realized the rent-to-own retailer was participating in a national program called “Red Shirt Friday.” It’s a day of recognition for the brave individuals who serve in the military, according to RedShirtFriday.com.
The acronym R.E.D., which stands for Remembering Everyone Deployed (or Remember Everyone Deployed), was created to remind people of the heroes overseas and show that those back home are thinking of them.
“Now we do Red Shirt Friday, and there are lots of other companies out there that do it,” said Hajduk. “We’ve had people ask us over the years why we’re all wearing red — so we’ve explained it.”
Since the company adds custom designs to just about every type of product, some clients started asking for an American flag to be added to the backs, and sometimes the sleeves, of their custom apparel. That sparked an idea for Vox-pop-uli.
Initiative for local, national veteran support
With clients seeking ways to be a part of the movement, Vox-pop-uli launched a new program in November.
“We’re on a mission to raise $1 million in ten years for veteran support groups,” said Hajduk. “And we found in talking to people that there are a lot of local military support groups out there.”
Called The RED Collection, for every item purchased — from their selection of shirts, jackets, mugs and hats — Vox-pop-uli will donate $5 directly to support veterans. An American flag can also be added to the left sleeve of the garments.
Many smaller veterans groups in communities like Peachtree Corners don’t always have the resources or level of awareness that groups like Wounded Warriors, Tunnel to Towers, the Gary Sinise Foundation and other well-known national charities have.
“They’re all great causes, but we’ve got so many guys in our community that those groups don’t always reach,” said Hajduk.
Helping companies, helping causes
He mentioned a group in South Georgia that’s part of the Wake for Warriors organization. On weekends, volunteers throughout the country take disabled veterans that were wounded in service out onto local lakes for a day of fun and healing.
“They’ve got all the wakeboards and stuff like that equipped for these guys that have lost limbs and things … ,” he said. “We’re trying to help other causes like that.”
Companies are donating a portion of the sales for the “red shirt” products to the charities of their choice. And Vox-pop-uli is donating its profits from those items to military-based nonprofits as well.
“As we’ve done this, we have found there’s a huge calling or need that companies want to find their purpose,” he said.
Once the decision is made to get involved, Vox-pop-uli is there to help companies get started in the process.
Every good cause needs funding
The idea is so easy for the company to execute that Vox isn’t limiting the help to just giving to military-based services.
“We’re working with people to get involved with their pet projects. No pun intended, but maybe it’s a local animal shelter,” said Hajduk.
He mentioned a company that has a foundation where half of the money goes to scholarships and half of the money goes to disaster relief.
“They’re a nationwide retailer with 330 stores. They have a ton of employees in Florida that last year got rocked with hurricanes,” he said. “They were able to give back to the associates in their member companies to get them back on their feet.”
In that case, the company is branding on the sleeve of the shirt so that it still has the company name on there.
“It’s still great workwear and stuff, but they’re also taking a portion of the sales, and we’re giving on it as well,” said Hajduk. “We had one client present a check to its board of directors of the foundation for $4,800.”
With that one client alone, Vox-pop-uli will probably exceed the goal of raising $1 million in ten years. Hajduk said he’d be happy to modify it.
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Community
The PCBA Awards $500 to Light Up The Corners at After-Hours Event
Published
2 weeks agoon
May 28, 2025The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded a check for $500 to Light Up the Corners at their May 2025 Business After Hours event.
Light Up the Corners, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, organizes the annual Glow Run and Twilight Trot — a nighttime, community celebration that’s equal parts race, fun run, party and fundraiser.
This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, August 16 at The Forum in Peachtree Corners. The 1K Twilight Trot will start at 8 p.m., and the four-mile Glow Run will begin at 8:30 p.m. After the runners have crossed the finish line, a fun, post-race party will follow.
All proceeds from the Light Up the Corners event go to benefit less fortunate children and families in the community by giving them the chance to participate in life-enhancing programs and activities at the Fowler YMCA.
A history of charitable donations
PCBA’s donation to Light Up the Corners will help the organization meet its goal of assisting struggling families through their Why It Matters campaign. It’s the latest in a series of donations that PCBA has made over the years through their community outreach program.
“We are so proud that the PCBA has awarded 20 scholarships to outstanding future business leaders and donated in excess of $173,500 into our metro Atlanta community over the last 13 years,” said Lisa Proctor, PCBA board president.
Funds for PCBA’s community outreach program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorships and Tailgates and Touchdowns, an annual charity event they hold each August. Donations and scholarships are awarded at their Business After Hours events so that their members have the opportunity to learn more about the community organizations.
About Peachtree Corners Business Association
The Peachtree Corners Business Association is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches, programs, shared resources, community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect, develop, grow and prosper.
The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types that want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area.
For more information call 678-969-3385, email membership@peachtreecornersba.com or visit peachtreecornersba.com.
Related
The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded local high school senior, Heidi Chung, a $1,000 scholarship during their April 24 Business After Hours event. Heidi and her family were presented with the scholarship and introduced to the organization’s members and guests at the monthly gathering.
Heidi was accepted by several colleges and has selected the University of Kentucky to continue her education, pursuing a degree in nursing. When asked what lessons she has learned from her experiences volunteering and serving in the community throughout her life, Heidi commented, “I have learned that true leadership is about service, taking initiative and persevering through challenges.”
Scholarship Chair Donna Linden and Outreach Director Suzanna Martinez shared that the scholarship committee was impressed with Heidi’s many accomplishments, “whether she was organizing fundraisers, leading performance groups or helping athletes recover from injuries, Heidi demonstrated a positive impact on the community, as well as outstanding academic results.”
Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach Program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorship and an annual charity event. Donations and scholarships are awarded at PCBA’s monthly events so that members have the opportunity to learn more about the individuals and organizations.
“We are so proud that the PCBA has … awarded 20 scholarships to outstanding future business leaders and donated in excess of $173,000 into our metro Atlanta community over the last 13 years,” stated Lisa Proctor, PCBA board president.
About Peachtree Corners Business Association
“Where Businesses Come to Grow,” the Peachtree Corners Business Association is a business membership organization that focuses on innovative approaches, programs, shared resources, community outreach and opportunities for member businesses and professionals to connect, develop, grow and prosper.
The PCBA is made up of businesses of all sizes and types who want to expand their reach and grow their business within Peachtree Corners and the greater metro Atlanta area.
For more information, call 678-969-3385, email membership@peachtreecornersba.com or visit peachtreecornersba.com.
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