A ‘Patriot Project’ and open letter from Kodiak's CEO
Kodiak Building Partners, including CEO and president Steve Swinney, have announced the Patriot Project Initiative via an open letter to the LBM Industry.
Swinney, who is also the chairman of the company’s not-for-profit Kodiak Building Partners Foundation, discusses the initiative as follows in his letter to the industry:
You may have read the following article in the Wall Street Journal on March 28: “America Pulls Back From Values That Once Defined It, WSJ-NORC Poll Finds - Patriotism, religion, and hard work hold less importance”.
That same day, I, along with other members of our Kodiak team, were flying to Washington, D.C. for the National Lumber & Building Materials Dealers Association (NLBMDA) annual legislative conference and Capitol Hill visits.
I was reminded once again why I love our industry so much! Patriotism and hard work remain in abundance by the many independent dealers who took the time (and incurred expenses) to represent our industry in Washington and to engage with politicians who are writing and passing bills that impact our communities, our businesses, and our lives.
For several years, I have wanted to undertake a “flag initiative” to ensure that all Kodiak locations were proudly displaying an American flag as a symbol of our dedication to our communities and our country. Being in our nation’s capital and interacting with so many fantastic people from our industry led us to expand this idea that we now call the Patriot Project!
The Patriot Project provides flags to independent building products distributors who want to display their patriotism at their location! Kodiak will provide a new 4’x6’ American flag made in the USA to the first 1,000 independent distributors in our industry who donates at least $50 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation between now and June 16.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to help America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.
Tunnel to Towers was also a favorite charity of a good friend and founder and former president of Freedom Materials, a Kodiak drywall distribution company in the mid-Atlantic.
Silvio Ferrari sadly passed away in December 2022 and we hope to honor him with this initiative.
Please join us in showing that at least in our industry, we continue to be proud patriots of the greatest nation in the world!
To receive your flag, you must donate at least $50 to the Patriot Project.
From there, our Foundation will keep track of donations and funnel all proceeds directly to Tunnel to Towers. The first 1,000 distributors to donate will receive a flag to display at your location.
After you make your donation, we will order your new flag and ship it directly to your location provided and ensure it gets to you by July 4, 2023, so you can celebrate our nation with patriotic pride.
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Kodiak Building Partners was founded in 2011 to acquire locally owned and operated businesses in the building material sales and distribution industries. Over the last 11 years, Kodiak has acquired over 100 locations in 25 states. The company is based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
The Kodiak Building Partners Foundation was established to have available funds in place in times of need for employees affected by unforeseen events and tragedies and to strengthen and empower children, families, and veterans in need. Over the years, the Kodiak Foundation has donated over $500,000 back to communities across the nation and actively serves in over 20 partnerships each year. For more information visit the Kodiak Building Foundation here.
