What do Minneapolis, Malaysia and Memphis have in common?
They're among hundreds of places across the globe where deteriorating houses have received facelifts with paint donated by Valspar, a Minneapolis company setting the bar on such donations.
On Tuesday, the company is celebrating its 1 millionth gallon of donated paint, making it one of the top in-kind donors for Habitat for Humanity International. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Habitat for Humanity leaders will participate in an event to mark the philanthropic feat.
"They've made a tremendous impact, not just here but across the country," said Susan Haigh, president of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, which has built more than 800 homes in the past 25 years -- most finished off with Valspar paint.
"Plus, their 'Brush with Kindness' program [which spruces up the homes of lower-income families] has helped more than 1,000 families here," Haigh said.
Haigh said the company has gone above and beyond the call of corporate sponsors. Valspar leaders attend national Habitat conferences and explain how to get paint, she said. Employees volunteer. And Valspar "is always asking what more they can do," she said.
Valspar has donated paint and cash to Habitat for Humanity for 30 years, said Mike Dougherty, president of the Valspar Foundation. It's a great fit for the company, he said, because Valspar can see the immediate impact of its donations, employees can pitch in, and "it's good for business."
Turns out, however, that the 1 million gallons of paint donated in the past decade to Habitat doesn't cover all Valspar philanthropy. It gives away 250,000 gallons of paint each year to groups such as the Guthrie Theater and projects in countries where Valspar has international offices, Doughterty said.
