Details of campaign
Owned by Kohler Co., and with headquarters in Cheltenham, Kohler Mira, comprised of the Mira Showers, Kohler UK and Rada Controls brands, is a world leader in bathroom design and has been setting the standard for innovation, craftsmanship and new technology across the globe since 1921.
With family at the heart of its parent company, charity is ingrained into the ethos of Kohler Mira. At the beginning of each year, the company employees select a charity partner to support throughout the year, with all proceeds raised then doubled by the company. Staff then devise innovative ways to get hands-on in a variety of fundraising activities, with all proceeds collected then given to the partner.
Last year, the company raised a total of more than £70,000 for its partner charities, Cancer Research UK and charity: water.
As its key charity partner, Kohler Mira welcomed Angharad McKenzie from charity: water to both of its company roadshows at the start of the year to explain more about the life-changing work that the charity is carrying out in third world countries.
Importantly, what resonated with charity: water, was the synergies with Kohler Mira. Not only does it reflect Kohler Mira’s commitment to looking for innovative water solutions, but it’s a forward-thinking charity. It is set up to allow 100% of public donations to go directly to community projects, as all the business costs and overheads are covered by generous investors into the charity. This means that 100% of the business’ 2017 fundraising efforts went directly to the source. Plus, the charity is committed to supporting the economy of the project, by using only local workers and suppliers.
Kohler Mira gave its associates the opportunity to see the work first-hand by providing them with a seven-minute virtual reality experience about how charity: water changes a little girl and her community’s lives. This moving and immersive experience had a significant impact on the entire business and spurred the team on to raise as much money as possible.
Inspired by World Water Day in March 2017, Kohler Mira raised a staggering £58,300 as part of its stewardship programme for charity: water. With all funds going directly to clean water community projects to be distributed over the next two years, staff participated in a range of water-related fundraising activities.
The week began with a Jerry Can race, which saw teams from different departments compete in a relay involving transferring water from one jerry can to another against the clock.
There was also an enjoyable water-themed bake-off, with designs including elephants in a bath tub, a jerry can cake and duck pond cake, complete with yellow icing ducks.
To celebrate World Water Day itself, associates wore blue and donated £1. A very successful ‘welly wanging’ competition also got underway in the morning.
Finally, Kohler Mira named a bucket, ‘Jerry the Can’, which then made its way around the entire business whilst people filled it with their loose change.
Staff also took part in a sponsored 20-mile walk between its Cheltenham headquarters and Barnwood (Gloucester) site.
Kohler Mira’s fundraising efforts did not stop there as employees held a charity ball in Cheltenham. The Kohler UK Enchanted Ball offered a three-course fine dining experience alongside dancing and entertainment with all proceeds going to charity: water.
Coupled with other fundraising events, including a number of sponsored walks by the team in Hull, Kohler Mira also raised nearly £12,000 in total for Cancer Research UK.
Aim
Charity is such a significant part of Kohler Mira’s company ethos and as Cancer Research UK and charity: water are extremely close to the hearts of several staff members, the team were determined to pull together and raise as much as possible for the worthy causes.
The campaign significantly affected morale and employee engagement in a positive way and staff from all levels and areas of the company actively participated in a number of events that took place over the course of the year. They came up with innovative ideas about new fundraising activities to further champion their chosen cause and hopefully inspire them to get involved. They were determined to raise awareness of the charities involved and get people in the local community and industry talking.
2018
This year, Kohler Mira has decided to focus its fundraising efforts on a single charity partner, the renowned charity Make-A-Wish® UK. Voted as its charity partner for 2018 by employees, Make-A-Wish in the UK has been creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses since 1986.
The charity grants wishes to children and young people with a critical illness – from starring in their own films, walking with dinosaurs, going on an amazing holiday, meeting a celebrity hero, or having a bedroom makeover.
The staff voted for Make-A-Wish® as its partner as the team were all moved by the work it does and very much wanted to be a part of helping make a child’s wish become a reality.
So far in 2018, Kohler Mira has raised just over £12,000 – almost halfway to a target of £24,500. This equates to seven wishes (the average wish cost is £3,500).
Kohler Mira kickstarted its support of Make-A-Wish UK by hosting a Make-A-Wish week at the end of April. The fun-filled week featured a number of activities and events including ’Wear what you wish’ day, bake offs and a 12-hour dance-a-thon, as the team looked to maximise its fundraising efforts and raise awareness of the cause.
In July, over 600 associates, friends and family gathered at Pittville Park in Cheltenham, for a Dragon Boat race and Funday Event as part of a celebratory company gathering and managed to raise over £3,600 for the charity.
As well as the Dragon Boat racing on the lake, guests enjoyed a range of activities and stalls, including face painting, lucky dip and tombola.
Later in the year, there are two events planned from the Kohler Mira Skydive team: A Teddy Bear Parachute competition and on-site Car Wash run by associates. The Skydive team is now pushing its fundraising efforts in order to raise £4,000 to qualify for the jump.
The Kohler Mira sales team is also planning a 460-mile Cycling Challenge at Rutland Water in September, aiming to raise £3,500.
