Honorees
Doug Edwards
Doug is a U.S. Navy veteran and retired NYPD officer who bravely participated in the 9/11 search and recovery efforts in 2001. We were proud to honor Doug with this donation as a token of gratitude for his service.
Rene Bonville
Safe Step is now the largest, most well-respected and third-party accoladed walk-in tub company in North America. With a significant milestone in sight last year (100,000 tubs being manufactured), Safe Step targeted Bonville based on his invaluable impact on the company. Duffer, Oliver and his family along with 100 team members gathered late last year in order to honor the man who very well may have triggered the company’s prosperity. Safe Step created a program of giving in 2013, aptly named Safe Step Cares, which has been responsible for dozens of donations to those in need without the cost of the state-of-the-art tub. Bonville was the latest Safe Step Cares recipient. Rene never had the luxury to routinely experience the masterpiece he helped create, yet he basked in the reverence and respect he so rightfully deserved during his day attended by virtually all loved ones, team members, media and local dignitaries. “Safe Step is forever grateful for Rene,” said Duffer. “I could always count on honest, candid feedback from him. He was as dear and kind as he was smart and his counsel ultimately led to Safe Step offering the best walk-in tubs on the planet.” Rene’s story and the partnership’s success were gracefully covered by the small community’s news sources such as the Lewis County Herald and the Columbia Times. The Herald’s managing editor Ms. Becky Newbold attended the event and turned it into a front-page story of remembrance.
CJ DeGennaro
A single father, Steve has devoted his life to caring for his son but was unable to afford the one thing he needs: a walk-in tub. CJ’s grandmother used to take CJ to water therapy at a local facility but passed away and Steve works full-time so CJ is in the predicament of having to obtain a ride to water therapy. CJ received a surprise donation from Safe Step Walk-In Tub and was surrounded by friends and family. The tub will eliminate the need to pay for a ride to water physical therapy. It is a therapeutic tub with water jets that will help CJ feel better, sleep better, be better. He was unanimously chosen by the company’s employees to receive the tub. Said one nominator: “CJ is the pride of Ellwood City. He knows the family who received the last donation and has privately shared his wish of having his own, which his father cannot afford. It will help him so much and he deserves a break.”
Bev Turner
Nominated by her boss, Karmen Vance, she was surprised in the lobby of Safe Step headquarters by her colleagues. Also in on the secret: her father Maurice, who purchased a Safe Step tub prior to the donation. It was the ultimate corporate feel-good moment of the year. Bev was involved in a motorcycle accident and was working through constant pain at three jobs before Safe Step gave her an opportunity. She is revered by her peers and is reportedly feeling much better after nearly a year with the tub at her beck and call.
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