How great yesterday to have lunch with my very close friend and fellow sorority sister (AEPhi) Debi Hoxter from Philadelphia with her lovely daughter Deanie (who has just graduated from Skidmore and will soon will make the right organization be thrilled in hiring this amazing young woman who has studied art both here and in Italy and is poised and sophisticated beyond her years).
Over lunch, Debi shared a wonderful story about finding a job in New York for her 26 year old son Andrew who has high-functioning Autism (Asperger Syndrome). Andrew had been working for his grandfather as an office assistant and messenger, however the office just closed, and he was in need of finding a job quickly. By the way, I have met Andrew and he is a wonderful young man and a phenomenal musician. I listened to him play the drums when I visited them in Philadelphia and didn't want him to stop!
A friend of Debi's suggested that Andrew might do well with catering delivery, and some names of catering companies were provided by another friend. Debi, being a terrific networker- searched their websites and was encouraged by the personal message posted by Hale & Hearty's CEO Simon Jacobs who invited customer feedback.
Debi then e-mailed Simon Jacobs, shared Andrew's background and strong work ethic, and told him that all Andrew needs is an employer willing to give him a chance. Within one hour (!), Simon responded and let Debi know that her e-mail was sent to Human Resources and that she'd be hearing back shortly. In the next hour, an interview was set up for Andrew for the following day, at which time Andrew was offered a catering delivery job! Andrew has now been working at Hale & Hearty for one month and has been trained by Hale & Hearty to learn the routine of catering delivery and set-up. this is such a wonderful story and a win-win for everyone and Hale & Hearty truly is an organization that strives to make a difference.
Debi, who is a nonprofit fund-raising professional, sees that organizations are increasingly interested in diversifying their workforce, and Hale & Hearty should be commended for their commitment to doing so without hesitation.
Since Debi and I met at Washington University—quite a few years ago, we have remained dear friends and I had the opportunity to work with her team when she was running for over ten years, Corporate Underwriting at WHYY in Philadelphia. So many adjectives describe this wonderful woman–High-energy, results-oriented leader and the full epitome of the realmeaning of what a true professional nonprofit fund-raising executive is.
This is a wonderful story. I will now frequent Hale & Hearty knowing they are a caring organization and also understand the value of diversity of every kind. Andrew will no doubt do a wonderful job.