Community Involvement

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

Willoway Nurseries has been partnering with the Red Cross since 2017. Through our lifesaving partnership — hosting blood drives, we have collected 107 units of blood, impacting as many as 321 hospital patients!

Willoway Nurseries works with trade associations and donates plants from trade shows to help support local Habitat projects.

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward that vision by building strength, stability, and self-reliance in partnership with families in need of decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

Lupus is a chronic disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of the body. Willoway has been fundraising for the Lupus Foundation for over four years under our team name “Flare Fighters.”

Each fall, Flare Fighters walks to support the fight against Lupus, raising and donating more than $8,000. The team sells t-shirts ahead of the “Walk to End Lupus NOW” event, and in 2021 had more than 20 employees, family, and friends participate in a virtual walk at a local park.

For our spring fundraiser, Flare Fighters sells raffle tickets for “themed” baskets donated by Willoway employees, family, and friends — with all proceeds going to the Lupus Foundation.

Annually, the team at Willoway Nurseries has worked to help where we can with fundraisers and donations to support those in need in our local communities.

Neighborhood Alliance has been compassionately caring for the community since 1927. They provide emergency shelter, daily meal delivery and nutrition services for seniors, childcare and child enrichment programs, and access to wellness programs such as Help Me Grow. With the inspired mission of strengthening neighborhoods, Neighborhood Alliance continues to expand programs and services to address the diverse and changing needs of families and individuals in Northeast Ohio.

Since 2017, Willoway Nurseries has been showing our support for veterans at the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky. Giving back to and showing respect for our veterans is something that is very close to our hearts.

Some of the ways Willoway has assisted the home: shade tree donation, sponsored steak dinner, live Christmas tree donation (planted on the grounds), poinsettia donation, plant material donation for an Eagle Scout landscape installation project, and helping with plant material purchases for redesigned areas on the grounds. Everything we’ve accomplished at the home has been done not only with company donations, but also with employees volunteering their time.

Willoway Nurseries employees have participated in our annual food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank for many years. We set a goal each year of around 1,500 units to give back to families in need.

This local food bank counts on Willoway as one of its largest supporters annually. Employees join together and help load the truck when the food bank picks up our collection — which is always a great feeling!

The Nord Center is a nonprofit community mental health center serving Lorain and Huron Counties, founded in 1947. They currently serve approximately 7,000 people per year through core mental health services, crisis and suicide prevention, supportive housing, and sexual assault and trauma response.

Willoway has supported The Nord Center through a variety of fundraisers: collecting books and movies for their children’s library; collecting hats, gloves, and clothing; and collecting school supplies — all donated directly to The Nord Center.

Willoway’s sales staff began collecting toys, clothing, food, and cash for the Lorain County Salvation Army Toy Drive in 1999. Each year they collected more and more — soon other departments began joining in.

In 2015, when Willoway implemented the Great Game of Business, the company designated the toy drive as a companywide annual GGOB mini game, running November through the first week of December. A collection goal is set each year — higher than the previous year — and reviewed weekly at our GGOB meeting. So far, we haven’t missed yet.

Seed Your Future is the movement to promote horticulture and inspire people to pursue careers working with plants. Their BLOOM! activities bring plant science to students in engaging, hands-on ways.

Utilizing BLOOM! materials, Willoway staff presented sessions aimed at 3rd–6th grade youth at a local library — displaying different seeds, discussing career paths in horticulture, and helping each child sow sunflower seeds to take home.

Willoway was so inspired by Seed Your Future that we launched a “Donate your Change to Make a Change” campaign. Our $195 goal — to support 10 middle school classrooms — was blown away: employees collected over $600.

Willoway Nurseries and Premier Plant Solutions support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which provides treatment to children with life-threatening illnesses at no cost to their families.

Each year, Willoway and Premier donate a complete landscape for the Cleveland St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. Team members partner with local landscapers to design the landscape, select the plant material from our nursery, deliver, and install. Dozens of local trade companies donate their time and materials to build the home, and $2 million is raised for St. Jude by selling tickets for a chance to win it.

“One of the most beautiful things in the world is a child’s smile. The next best thing? Knowing that you are the reason behind it.”

Stein’s team hosted the 5th annual FrankenStein’s event benefitting Variety – the Children’s Charity of Wisconsin. Their efforts, combined with vendors and service providers, raised over $30,000 to support adaptive bicycles and other equipment for children with disabilities.

Willoway Nurseries participates as part of the team to support this great charity during the Halloween season. It gives children a fun event and collects funds that help them adapt to the challenges they face each day.