WENATCHEE, Wash. – Stemilt Growers and its founding family, the Mathisons, were given one of three 2017 Civil Rights and Social Justice Awards this past Saturday. The award was given by the City of Wenatchee and its Diversity Advisory Council during its annual Multicultural and Martin Luther King Jr. Festival held in Wenatchee. This is the 13th year that the Civil Rights and Social Justice Awards have been given out.
Stemilt was selected as the winner in the business category for its impact in the lives of children and families, migrant workers, the homeless, and other underserved or disadvantaged groups in the greater Wenatchee area. The company’s long-time program offering its employees with free, on-site English classes through the Wenatchee Literacy Council and its recent $150,000 donation to Lighthouse Christian Ministries to aid in the building of a new community soup kitchen were two examples of how Stemilt is making a difference in its community. The company was also praised for the unique Stemilt Family Clinic, a medical clinic and pharmacy located at its Euclid Street facility that offers free, primary care services to all Stemilt employees and their dependents. Stemilt’s employees are well-known for their generosity and service in the local community. For the past four years, Stemilt’s employees have joined together to provide every child in foster care in central Washington with a gift from their holiday wish list.
Tate Mathison, director of sales at Stemilt, accepted the company’s nomination late last week, and his wife, Lauren Mathison, was on site to accept the award on Saturday.
“This is quite the honor for the Mathison family and the entire Stemilt team,” said West Mathison, Stemilt president/CEO. “Our company mission focuses on cultivating people, and these programs that were recognized are a step towards doing that. We have the best team at Stemilt, and are grateful for their commitment and hard work in making our company, and our community better today than it was yesterday,” said Mathison.
###
About Stemilt
Stemilt Growers is a leading tree fruit growing, packing and shipping company based in Wenatchee, Washington. Owned and operated by the Mathison family, Stemilt is the leading shipper of sweet cherries and one of the nation’s largest suppliers of organic tree fruits. Stemilt has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainable agriculture and social responsibility since 1989, when founder Tom Mathison launched the company’s Responsible Choice program. For more information about Stemilt, visit www.stemilt.com and follow Stemilt on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and You Tube.
Source: Stemilt Growers
