L to R: WI President Martha Anne Rich, McWane President Ruffner Page, and WI Executive Director Susan Crow

McWane, Inc. has been a strong supporter of Workshops, Inc. (WI) for many years and is proud to be named their Philanthropic Partner of the Year. WI recruits people with various disabilities, provides them with on-the-job training, and then helps them find a job. They partner with local businesses for services such as assembly, packaging, mailing, and order fulfillment, which is all done at their facility located in the Avondale neighborhood of Birmingham.

Running an operation like this can be a challenge because WI relies almost completely on the generosity of the community to support the program. This year, WI came up with a new concept, Comedy for a Cause, and McWane was happy to be a title sponsor for the event which drew nearly 300 people and raised $28,000. It featured a nationally-known comedian with disabilities who put on a hilarious show while also challenging the stereotype of what people with disabilities can achieve.

The proceeds from the Comedy for a Cause event will enable WI to hire an additional on-staff Employment Specialist whose primary responsibility will be placing people with disabilities into community-based employment.