Honorees
John Deaver
Based on John’s production of the young girl’s video, he was hired full-time for the program. John has traveled from coast-to-coast on a shoestring budget in order to capture these special moments. What John didn’t call attention to was the fact that he was suffering himself. John has Ankylosis Spondylitis, an incurable degenerative disease. In layperson’s terms, it’s like a clamp around your back and eventually, your spine will fuse completely. He visits the Alabaster YMCA when he can to sit in the hot tub to relieve his pain. He takes 8 different medications daily in order to function through the chronic pain. Upon staying with the program’s director, 150PR head Derek Farley, John finally revealed his disease. He stayed with Farley to cut down on expenses; Farley has a Safe Step tub in his home in Charlotte. Although embarrassed, Deaver asked to use the tub; Farley obviously obliged. After an hour in the tub, Deaver exited and said he felt better than he had in years Farley then presented the nomination to the Safe Step executive team, who approved the donation. Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-in Tub is the largest walk-in tub manufacturer in North America. The company created its nationally-renowned philanthropy named Safe Step Cares in 2013. The charity has donated more than 50 tubs in 5 years and chooses recipients based on nominations. In most cases, it lets its valued team members vote on the recipients. In John’s case, it was “Mike’s choice,” – donated by company founder Mike Duffer. “For our first couple of donations, I contracted local videographers in each town, which lead me to him for our first giveaway in Alabaster,” said Derek Farley, spokesperson for Safe Step Cares. “He understood our objective and is the best storyteller via video I’ve ever worked with. I now know the pain he lives with and I am so excited to surprise him with a tub of his own. That our company’s founder Mike Duffer volunteered to be a part of the surprise tells you exactly what you need to know about how the company feels about John.”
Eric Fuehrer
Safe Step Tubs, based in Nashville, heard about Eric’s story – that he couldn’t maneuver in a standard tub safely -- and decided to award him with a life-changing walk-in tub at no charge. So, in a secret kept by family and friends for months, Eric was lured to a softball tournament after being told his boys were playing. They weren’t. Unable to walk long distances, he was escorted by a utility vehicle to home plate as hundreds looked on. And sitting behind home plate – his place of joy – was a large box gift-wrapped with a bow and include a card. Well, the secret didn’t last much longer, as representatives from the company read a letter from its president. And then they proceeded to unveil his new walk-in tub, which the company will also install at no cost. Safe Steps philanthropy, Safe Step Cares, has awarded 50 tubs in five years by finding those deserving of a tub but who cannot afford one; in Eric’s case, mounting medical bills. In addition to being a husband, Eric was a former New York police officer, community volunteer, and Cub Scout leader. He lives with chronic pain and his doctor recommended a walk-in tub. His sister-in-law had heard about Safe Step Cares through her neighbor and nominated Eric. The company considers 100 nominations a month before narrowing it down to 3-5. It then asks its team members to decide who receives the tub. Eric won the company vote and the gift of a lifetime and with its help, hopes to beat cancer and return to umpiring behind home plate, where his gift once sat.
Shauna Bylund
But her wish was for something that almost everyone takes for granted: the ability to bathe safely. Her parents, Cindy and Mike, are strapped with medical bills related to Shauna’s health conditions, and we're unable to grant their daughter’s reasonable request. So Cindy decided to write a company in Nashville, Tennessee, which indisputably makes the premiere walk-in tub on the market, Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. She submitted a nomination for consideration for a free tub through the company’s nationally-recognized philanthropy Safe Step Cares. Safe Step, which has donated more than 50 tubs in five years and receives dozens of submissions monthly, put it under consideration along with other deserving nominations. Then, it did something even more remarkable: they asked their valued team members to vote on the program’s next recipient. Cindy’s nomination on behalf of her ailing daughter won the popular vote. And earlier this month, Shauna received her dream gift in the form of a state-of-the-art walk-in tub. And it wasn’t a public relations fly-by. Company representatives from Charlotte and Birmingham, along with employees of Canadian Safe Step, the dealer representative which serves the Salt Lake City community, flew or drove in to make the delivery and installation in person. “Safe Step Cares is the giving heart of a very caring and different company,” said Safe Step Cares overseer Derek Farley. “Our team members take this program very seriously and it starts at the top with Mike (president Duffer), Stuart (CFO Hall), and Demie (COO Angelocci). The company sees the program as karma in that the more they give, the more success they achieve, and personally, I think they are right.” Farley declined to disclose the value of the tub and installation, saying, “First, the ability to provide this is priceless. Second, all jobs are custom and this one was free so it’s not about the money. It’s about the fact that Safe Step Cares.” Shauna took the first “safe bath” of her life and gave the tub an A+. “It relieved my chronic pain and eased my nerve damage. I can’t believe they chose me but I couldn’t be happier and am amazed that people who haven’t even met me gave me my dream gift of a lifetime.” Farley downplayed it but with a wink-wink: “Mike (Duffer) is the real deal. This is his program and I am just the messenger. But good luck getting the smile off of my face today.” The same could be said for the entire Bylund family, thanks to Safe Step Cares.
Jimmy Cox
Through the Safe Step Cares website, Cox received more than 30 nominations from his friends and family in the area. It was enough to make Safe Step’s monthly list of candidates. Safe Step receives dozens of nominations monthly, chooses the most deserving, and then invites its team members to vote on the winner. Cox won November’s popular vote. “This is the gift of a lifetime and one that will change Jimmy’s life forever,” said Jimmy’s mom Helen Nonnemacher. “Safe Step not only donated the tub, but they also sent a team of professionals to install it and a video team to capture all of the excitement. They were so kind and Jimmy warmed up to them immediately.” Cox was diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome as an infant. It is a chromosomal condition that affects male physical and cognitive development. Cox has also battled cancer and a number of other ailments and recently broke his leg. Of the many nominations, one said, “Jimmy has never let his condition define him. He is upbeat and warm-hearted and possesses an innocence that we all would like to have. He has just not had any luck health-wise but continues to smile and touch people. Jimmy just needs a shot in the arm or kindness. And now he has one. Says Safe Step Cares coordinator Derek Farley: “Jimmy is what the Safe Step Cares program is all about. This company changes lives every day with its product and our president Mike Duffer vowed to give back to those less fortunate from day one. We were impressed with the nominations. Our team of safety specialists felt he deserved an early Christmas present and we know our product will bring comfort and joy to Jimmy.” Cox volunteers at a local food kitchen and is nicknamed The Meat Sheriff due to the seriousness in which he takes his duties of delegating the ham distribution for sandwiches. He was all smiles upon receiving the tub and expressed immense gratitude. “Thank you so much,” said Cox. “I am not sharing this with my mom and dad.” With his mom in a warm embrace and surrounded by loved ones, he reconsidered and said, “Well, maybe with my mom.”
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