Holman Enterprises
The Holman team raises money for United Way.
After 98 years in South Jersey, it’s only natural that Holman would become more than just a corporation. As Mindy Holman tells it, the company has woven itself into the fabric of the community.
“Ever since my grandfather started this business in 1924, he felt it was his responsibility to give back to the community that helped him build his business, and that’s a mindset he passed down through generations,” says Mindy Holman, Holman Chairperson of the Board and the 3rd generation leader at the helm of this family-owned and run company. “My father felt very strongly about that too and I knew when I took over, I wanted that mindset to continue to grow, not as something we as a company do on the side, but something that is at the very core of what we do.”
Annually, Holman donates more than $3 million to organizations and causes making a difference in the community. Donations fall into 3 buckets: community grants, which are gifts of $10,000+ or multi-year gifts of $15,000+ to community nonprofits and organizations; community sponsorships, which provide $10,000+ to programs and events and, lastly, employee donations. Holman employees can request up to $1,000 to benefit organizations, events and causes they choose. In a typical year, the company supports more than 400 different organizations, big and small.
Even as one of the largest privately-owned automotive sector services in the world, Holman still has the feel of a mom-and-pop shop, and the vast majority of its corporate giving efforts are hyper-focused on Community programs right here in South Jersey.
“We’re firm believers in ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’” says Steve Holman, advisor to the Board, community affairs. “We know we’re incredibly fortunate, and we know it’s our responsibility to support the people and communities that support us. We were founded in South Jersey, and we make very conscious efforts to partner with local organizations where we can see for ourselves the effects of what we’re giving in the communities where our employees and our customers live.”
The company’s giving has spanned far and wide over almost a century in business, but there is one distinct thread in their efforts.
“We’re focused on giving to low-income populations without access to resources and basic needs, like food, housing, healthcare and education, as well as providing intangible benefits like leadership development and artistic expression – things that make people fully human,” says Steve.
But with all companies, corporate responsibility has to balance with succeeding as a company. When the pandemic hit, Holman had to suspend giving as leadership responded to the pandemic.
“Our primary focus turned to taking care of our employees and making sure we kept as many people employed as we could,” says Steve.
Charitable giving was suspended for 6 months. And then, Holman jumped back in full-force, awarding grants in record numbers which allowed them to meet their philanthropy goals despite the lost time. Holman has plans to restructure its corporate giving program to withstand disruptions like the pandemic.
“We were founded in South Jersey, and we make very conscious efforts to partner with local organizations where we can see for ourselves the effects of what we’re giving in the communities where our employees and our customers live.”
“We’re constantly looking for ways to make an even bigger impact in a more sustainable way,” says Steve. “The pandemic really showed us how important it is to be able to give when times get tough, so we’re looking into ways to start an endowment that allows us to give back even when the economy is hurting.”
Because in the end, says Mindy, giving has become a part of the company culture.
“The people who work for us really care,” she says. “They care about our customers. They care about working at a company that does good in the world. We want them to be proud to be part of an organization that strives to have a bigger impact than just the goods and services we sell.”
Holman promotes volunteer opportunities whenever possible, including a company-wide United Way Campaign that’s become a 75-year-and-counting tradition. Holman also runs an annual “Day of Caring,” which took place in October. Last year, people participated in walks and runs, helped build habitats or chose other ways to give back that were meaningful to them, says Mindy.
“Personally, I was part of a group of 25 that went to UrbanPromise in Camden to work on different projects, and it was amazing to see what skills people can bring to the table,” she says. “I helped organize food at a food pantry, but we had people pulling out skills as electricians, as plumbers – skills you never knew they had. You can see the joy on their faces when they’re able to use those skills to help others. It was incredibly cool to see.”
“My dad always said, ‘I never understand how we got so lucky to attract so many good people into our organizations, so many people who want to be involved,’” she adds. “We’ve gone from being simply a corporate donor to having real people involved in community efforts and events. It’s exciting to see the way this has evolved over time into something that is truly foundational to who we are.”
