KDI Cares Foundation, the non-profit arm of BTA member KDI Office Technology, continued its mission of giving back to the community in which it serves during the fall and winter of 2021. This past year, the organization and KDI employees focused their efforts on fighting breast cancer through its annual Pink Ball Golf Outing, spreading holiday cheer to area youth via the fourth-annual Jaws Holiday Bike Drive, and supporting a veteran by adopting his family through the Stars and Stripes, Bars and Pipes organization.

"We are so happy to be able to give back to our community, especially after this past year," said Rick Salcedo, president and CEO, KDI Office Technology. "So many organizations saw fewer donations due to the pandemic. I can’t thank our team enough for their generosity. Year after year we ask for their contributions — not only financial but also the donation of their time. I am very proud of what we can do when we pull together. Their generosity and kindness is immeasurable."

Pink Ball Golf Tournament
In the fall, KDI Office Technology, through its non-profit, KDI Cares Foundation, hosted its third-annual Pink Ball Golf Tournament at Ron Jaworski’s Ramblewood Country Club in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. Between sponsors, donors and golfers, $70,000 was raised for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Kimberly S. Reed, cancer survivor and author of the best-selling book, "Optimists Always Win," was the keynote speaker and spoke about embracing the power of optimism and putting adversity in the rearview mirror.

"The American Cancer Society is incredibly grateful to have KDI as a Flagship partner of our Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program in Greater Philadelphia, not only in 2021, but over the last four years," said Alex Basseches, senior corporate relations manager, Northeast Region, American Cancer Society Inc. "During that span they’ve contributed more than $230,000 and their generosity has helped ACS make an impact in the fight against cancer. It’s partners like KDI that enable us to invest more than $69 million in breast cancer research, educate people with information to navigate their cancer journey, advocate for increased access to care like screening services and expand patient services."

The Pink Ball Golf Tournament honors the memory and legacy of Rick Salcedo's brother-in-law, Tom Germanovich. This annual event was also created to bring awareness to male breast cancer and to encourage both men and women to get checked annually. KDI Cares Foundation is in the process of planning its fourth-annual Pink Ball Golf Tournament, which will be held Sept. 22, 2022. For more information, email PinkBall@kdi-inc.com.

Fourth-Annual Jaws Holiday Bike Drive
In December, KDI Cares Foundation supported the local youth through Ron Jaworski’s fourth-annual Jaws Holiday Bike Drive as a $2,500 Silver Bell Sponsor. Through this sponsorship designation, 25 bikes, 25 locks and 25 helmets were donated. Over the past four years, Jaws Youth Playbook has given away more than 1,000 bikes to underserved children during the holiday season.

In a letter to Salcedo, Jaworski showed his appreciation for KDI and his involvement. 

"Thank you for your generous support," Jaworski said. "During these challenging times of COVID-19, my foundation, Jaws Youth Playbook, was able to continue our tradition of giving bikes to hundreds of underserved youth in the spirit of the holiday season." 

Each year, the organization selects a new community in the Philadelphia area, and this year brought joy and smiles to the Community Center at Visitation. 

"Your donation is deeply appreciated by my foundation, and the youth in Kensington and ultimately the youth impacted," Jaworski said.

Giving Back to a Family in Need
For six years, KDI Office Technology has teamed up with its employees to support a local family in need over the holidays. In late December, they worked with Stars and Stripes, Bars and Pipes, a non-profit organization out of Holmes, Pennsylvania, that is very active in the local community, and focuses on helping veterans and first responders. A local 15-year Army veteran named Pete and his three boys were selected for KDI’s charitable giving endeavor. The veteran and his family had been hit with a string of very bad luck, losing everything but the clothes on their backs. KDI was touched by Pete’s story. The company raised $3,000 through its annual holiday party via highly coveted raffle baskets and 50/50 sales. Additionally, winter clothes and jackets were collected and presented.

"From one of his children being a victim of a violent crime, to Pete being in terrible motorcycle accident and out of work during a long recovery, to their home being flooded by Hurricane Ida, and the entire family also being infected with COVID-19, the heartache was more than any one family should ever have to bear," said Crystal Manning, board member, KDI Cares Foundation. "The club’s members were even more touched that we were able to help one of their own."

KDI was presented with a certificate to show appreciation for adopting a veteran and his family during the holiday season.