Raffle for a Cause – Supporting the Rollins Employee Relief Fund

When an opportunity arose to raise money for the Rollins Employee Relief Fund (RERF), Steve Swanson, NY Branch Manager, was ready to take on the challenge. Started in 2014, the RERF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides emergency financial assistance to employees of Rollins, Inc. and its subsidiaries during unexpected personal crises or natural disasters. It’s supported by corporate fundraising campaigns, employee donations, and community outreach efforts.

It’s such an important and wonderful charity that Steve serves on the RERF grant committee. During the committee’s monthly meeting in July, members were asked to come up with creative fundraising ideas. At a monthly regional meeting, Steve proposed a raffle that would give employees across the northern Western branches a chance to win a paid day off. The idea quickly gained support from the team, and the fundraiser ran from July through Labor Day. Employees embraced the opportunity to participate, with some technicians generously donating as much as $100 for a chance to win.

The friendly competition also gave the branches an opportunity to rally together around a meaningful cause. Steve was very happy with the outcome, saying, “In the end, the team raised an impressive $3,425 for the Rollins Employee Relief Fund. And while the New York City branch came out on top in the fundraising competition, everyone wins in this scenario!”

The RERF provides emergency financial assistance to Rollins team members facing personal crises, natural disasters, critical hardships and other unexpected life events. While the $3,425 raised will make a difference, the true impact of the campaign goes beyond the dollar amount.

It demonstrated the willingness of our team to come together and support fellow Rollins employees and their families when they need it most. Everyone wins when we look out for one another. That spirit is at the heart of how we operate at Western Pest Services – we show up for each other, our customers, and our communities. It’s about believing in our teammates, putting others first and doing our part to build something bigger than ourselves.

The success of this fundraiser is a great example of that philosophy in action. Employees showed up with generosity, purpose, and grit to help provide peace of mind to colleagues who may be facing difficult circumstances. A special thank you goes to Steve Swanson for leading the campaign and bringing the raffle idea to life, as well as everyone across NY/NNJ and the northern Western branches who contributed and helped make the fundraiser a success.

The raffle drawing took place virtually on Monday, September 14. A virtual wheel determined the lucky winners. Congrats to:
Tim Lobue – Service Supervisor, West Orange
Desiree Suffy – Customer Service Representative, New York City
Irvin Molina – Service Supervisor, Princeton

We are proud to have raised $3,425 for the Rollins Employee Relief Fund, and grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.

Good luck to all the contestants — and congratulations to the lucky winners!