Continental Siding: Creating a Culture of Giving Back
Nov 26, 2012Since 1982, Continental Siding in Kansas City has grown to become an industry leader in siding materials, technology, and products. Founded by Jerry O’Neal – a man who had a vision to build the Midwest’s largest wholesale distributor of exterior building products – the company has helped thousands of home and business owners improve the quality and efficiency of their properties with exterior siding, vinyl replacement windows, outdoor living spaces, garage doors, guttering, storm doors, and roofing. But, along the way, Continental Siding’s Founder and employees discovered that they were in a position to do even more for the people and the communities that had allowed them to grow and become a successful business in their midst. And even in the earliest years, when the business was just getting on its feet, Continental Siding began to develop and foster an internal culture of giving back to the community through their various available resources.
One of the reasons that Jerry O’Neal and the Continental Siding staff are so enthusiastic about their culture of giving is simply because the company, at its core, is in the improvements business. With the right resources, residential and business properties can be easily improved. The same can be said for neighborhoods and communities. And even though Continental Siding’s Founder, Jerry O’Neal, and his employees have donated their time, money, and labor to a variety of different projects over the decades, there have been a few high points in the recent years that
have brought much-needed attention to a number of local causes and efforts close to home in the Greater Kansas City Area.
In the race to find a cure for Cerebral Palsy, Continental Siding and several of the employees have become major contributors. During a recent event called Braxton’s Bike Ride for the Cure, company employees raised almost $11,000 USD. Donations were made payable to United Cerebral Palsy in St. Joseph, Missouri. The ride was inspired by Braxton Asher, the son of Continental Siding’s General Manager, Jamie Asher.
Continental Siding has also donated money, time, and resources for Habitat for Humanity. The company partnered with Home Depot in Springfield, Missouri to build a newer, safer outdoor deck for a family whose son was terminally ill with cancer. Home Depot in Springfield donated much of the materials and supplies to build the deck, and employees from Continental Siding donated their time and effort to get the job done and give the family a safe place to spend quality time together. In the Independence, Missouri area, Continental Siding installed Seamless Polymer Siding on a home owned by the Independence Missouri School District (at a greatly-discounted rate) in order to create a more stable, comfortable environment for a program called Reviving Hope.
From an individual giving perspective, one of Continental Siding’s longest-running employees, Salesman Warren Philips, should be singled out for particular praise. Warren has been with the company for over 20 years. Recently, he sponsored driver Chris Reiff in the UAW Made in America Weekend at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri. Warren has also recently teamed up with Continental Siding Founder Jerry O’Neal to sponsor firefighter Zack Thomas of the Harrisonville, Missouri fire department as part of the Guns and Hoses: Police vs. Firefighters Boxing Event. The charity fundraising event supports an organization that aids families of police and firefighters that have died in the line of duty.
Jerry O’Neal has also done much to contribute on his own. He recently donated to High Aspirations KC, a faith-based program that supports at-risk male African American youths socially, academically, emotionally and spiritually.
Although much of their community giving goes without recognition, it should be mentioned that in April of 2012, Jerry O’Neal was featured in Ingram’s Magazine as one of 50 Missourians You Should Know. He also received the 2011 iNpact Award from the Independence Economic Development Council (EDC), in recognition of accomplishments that created a positive impact in Independence, Missouri.
