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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David Bouchard, President & CEO
Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce
777 Peters Ave., Pleasanton 94566
(925) 846-5858, ext. 204
Email: david@pleasanton.org

 

                                                                              Pleasanton Business Expo 2005

                                                                               Honors Six “Business Heroes”

                                                                                              

PLEASANTON, CA - October 24, 2005 - The City of Pleasanton and the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce will hold a reception to honor six businesses that have demonstrated the traits “that are part and parcel “of Pleasanton’s Community of Character campaign. The reception will be held on Thursday, October 27 at 4:00 p.m. just before the doors to the Business Expo open.

Pleasanton Business Expo, sponsored by the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce and the City of Pleasanton, is the largest business networking event of the year with some 80 businesses displaying their products and services. The event will be held October 27th from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the CarrAmerica Conference Center in the cafeteria, located at 4400 Rosewood Drive in Pleasanton.

Pleasanton Unified School District, City of Pleasanton, Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce and a coalition of business, school, political and community leaders are modeling 6 Character Traits that ultimately will make all of us better people and our community an even better
place to live, work and raise a family. The traits are:

    Compassion
    Honesty
    Integrity
    Respect
    Responsibility
    Self-Discipline

The Pleasanton Business Expo Committee selected the theme “Businesses Supporting our Community of Character” because it realized that local shop owners in the downtown area, the Stoneridge Mall merchants, the businesses located at the Hacienda Business Park and practically everywhere else in town – all contribute to making Pleasanton a special place. A printer prints tickets to a fundraiser at no charge, a local high-tech business picks up the tab so we have music at one of the Downtown events, or another business donates funds for a
special project at one of our schools. Everyone plays a role in this effort – but the City and Chamber thought it appropriate to point out the role of the business community. The six businesses selected are:

 

Sweet & Savory Café and Bake Shoppe

When Harvest Park 8th graders wanted to celebrate graduation, a business in town almost single-handedly made it happen. The owner served on three different committees, got other businesses to donate and supplied over 60% of the food and supplies for the event. Needless to
say, the ceremony was a huge success.

 

Windermere Properties of the East Bay

It’s not often that volunteers come en masse to lend a hand to help fix up schools in the under-served areas of Oakland. But that’s exactly what happened when this Pleasanton-based company got involved. Some 40 employees rolled up their sleeves and picked up their tools and
headed for two schools in Oakland – Lockwood elementary and Martin Luther King, Jr. elementary on June 17th – which is the company’s annual Community Service day. The 40 people painted, moved furniture, cleanup, weeded flower beds and some even stamped books.
School principals and staff were elated and they say the students got a first-hand demonstration of why giving back to the Community is important and rewarding.

 

Accusplit

When you need someone to count on, who better than the person who invented one of the best products on the market today for counting steps – the pedometer – to be there. We are talking about Ron Sutton, CEO of Accusplit, and an activity wellness company. Ron is
recognized worldwide as Mr. Pedometer for his work in developing and creating accurate pedometers and stopwatches at Accusplit. Ron's company stepped in to help support the recent 4th of July festival and has been active with the healthy lifestyle programs of our Pleasanton
schools by providing pedometers and advice and guidance. You may also recognize Ron at various community events – picking up the trash as part of the Green Dog Rangers.

 

Hometown GMAC Real Estate

Supporting the community is in Mike Peel's blood – literally. The co-owner of Hometown GMAC Real Estate was at Foothill High School last week to help coordinate their successful blood drive. And that is just one example. Mike is also very involved in the Kiwanis
organization, helping to raise funds for various activities. He is probably best known in the community for his big heart. Twice a year for the last three years, he goes all out for Pleasanton families by hosting Halloween and Easter extravaganza carnivals in the parking lot of his
Main Street offices. Games, prizes, live entertainment, treats and all the trimmings are enjoyed by all thanks to Mike and his company. It's his way of giving back to the community.

 

Wells Fargo Bank – Hacienda Branch

Wells Fargo Bank – Hacienda branch contributed $8,500 to the Donlon Elementary School Hurricane Katrina fundraising drive. Wells Fargo matched the funds raised by Donlon so that the students were able to donate a total of $17,000 to the relief effort.

 

Oracle Corporation

In town less than one year, Oracle has already made significant donations to a number of local organizations. Here are several examples: just a few days after a fire destroyed the computer lab at Foothill High School, Oracle’s Co-President, Safra Catz, called the City with their
offer to cover the cost of replacing the lab which was estimated at approximately $250,000. In keeping with Oracle’s commitment to education, the company recently made a $10,000 donation to Pleasanton Partnerships in Education. Not only did the company match employee
contributions to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Oracle also underwrote the City’s “Pleasanton Give Hope” pasta feed so that all proceeds could go directly to the American Red Cross. And Oracle employees are becoming active volunteers in the Pleasanton community,
working with a broad range of nonprofit organizations from Habitat for Humanity to Hope Hospice, and even partnering with a local Rotary Club to help refurbish a school for teenage mothers.

 

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About the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce

Founded in 1946, the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit, membership-based organization whose mission is to benefit business by creating and promoting economic opportunity, strengthening and educating its members and the community, and influencing public
policy. Its 950 member-businesses employ more than 20,000 people.

Wendy Gutshall

Communications & Special Events Manager
Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce
777 Peters Avenue
Pleasanton, CA 94566
Tel: (925) 846-5858
Fax: (925) 846-9697