Kichler Lighting Supports Workforce Development & Mental Health Nonprofit
For 156 years, OhioGuidestone, one of the largest behavioral health providers in Ohio, has helped individuals reset their paths, reclaim their autonomy and restore their purpose. In addition to its workforce development training programs, the nonprofit also provides critical services like counseling, substance use disorder treatment, early childhood services, psychiatric care and more.
Kichler Lighting decided to become involved with OhioGuidestone last year, recognizing that the organization was providing desperately needed services during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We saw our local communities suffering and in great need. The practical work and local integration of OhioGuidestone gave us confidence that both during the hard times and as things began opening up, our donation would have a long-term impact,” says Dave Bagnall, Vice President—HR at Kichler.
Kichler’s 2020 donations supported the nonprofit in a variety of ways. First, as a sponsor of the Workforce 360 program, which focuses on basic needs and skill development for participants, Kichler’s funds helped purchase outdoor bench and chair construction kits for youth participants to apply learned construction skills after class instruction. Their funds also helped OhioGuidestone provide “Telehealth Tool Kits” for those receiving mental health treatment; these kits include durable goods, video/telephone behavioral services and diagnosis-specific materials for clients. Finally, a 2020 year-end donation provided financial assistance for OhioGuidestone to establish and implement an Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Plan to help its staff identify and overcome gaps in practices and viewpoints that could contribute to racial inequity within their organization.
This year, Kichler has allocated additional funds to the nonprofit, including expanding to support scholarships for individuals aging out of foster care and funds to help foster parents of children with disabilities make their living spaces accessible. Kichler has also found a way to support the Workforce 360 program virtually, by conducting mock interviews in which corporate volunteers help give OhioGuidestone’s clients interviewing experience and helpful feedback. “It was important that the program we chose to work with would allow our employees to help and serve others,” says Dave.