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Velux makes $150,000 commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs

Staff Report //May 10, 2021//

Velux makes $150,000 commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs

Staff Report //May 10, 2021//

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The Velux Group gifted new skylights and $75,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lakelands Regions. (Photo/Provided) Velux Group USA has named the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lakelands region as a 2021 grant recipient of the company’s new Community Support Program.

The four-year commitment includes a financial donation of $75,000 and a plan to brighten the gymnasium with Velux skylights, according to a news release.

The Boys & Girls Clubs’ mission is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Members participate in evidence-based programs designed to put them on the path for success, the release said.

Greenwood native and NFL cornerback Josh Norman has partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs to renovate more than 12,000 square feet of unused space in the historic Brewer High School building, the release said. Velux joined in at phase 1 to contribute to the location’s transformation into a state-of-the-art facility for teens.

“Not only do some of our existing employees have personal connections to this facility; nearly everyone in the community does,” Tim Miller, CEO of Velux Group North America, said in the news release. “A well-educated workforce is needed to support Greenwood manufacturing, and the teens of today could very well be Velux colleagues in a matter of years.”

“The Velux skylights and Sun Tunnels look great and make a huge visual impact in the building,” Carter Clark, president and CEO of the Crescent Region Boys & Girls Clubs, said in the release. “We are excited about the upgraded facility and its potential to make local youth feel at home as a happy, inspiring place to learn and grow as a person.”

The teen center, which bears NFL player Josh Norman’s foundation name, will offer an enhanced place for learning. In addition to a financial gift, Velux donated skylights and Sun Tunnels to bring the natural elements of daylight and fresh air into the building. The donation includes more than $35,000 worth of locally made Velux products.

“Placing a row of skylights 20 feet long by 4 feet wide creates a dramatic impression as you enter the teen center,” said John Lawton, Velux Skylight global product manager and lead on the project, said in the release. “The products we installed were both standard and custom FCM skylights to welcome students into the building each day with natural light and fresh air — a place to regroup and take a deep breath.” 

The Velux Group USA board of directors approved the start of a new Community Support Program in 2020 designed to support the company’s local communities — Greenwood; Fort Mill; and Wells, Maine, with financial and product donations, as well as employee volunteer time.

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