NASCHAIR
Living out a workplace fantasy and supporting a good cause
Let’s face it, on some level haven’t we all dreamed of zooming our swivel office chairs down a city street, business casual shirts and blouses flapping in the breeze? It was last July, on a day when the street in front of the office was closed, that Smith-Dahmer Associate Jason Mejeur actually went for it. To the amusement of shop owners and passersby, Jason and a few other associates took their chairs out into the empty city block and raced them down the slight incline.
When word of the episode reached Chris Laurent, director of Development for Habitat for Humanity, it sounded like a fundraising opportunity. According to Chris:
“The world of non-profits has become an increasingly competitive market requiring us to be more creative. It's getting harder and harder to get people excited about a piece of chicken and a fundraising dinner. This has forced us to press the envelope of creativity in designing events that are high energy, high exposure and bring the community together while at the same time supporting a worthy cause.”
A few lunches later, Chris and Jason developed NASCHAIR, an annual, city-approved event that would raise money for Habit for Humanity while delighting throngs of spectators and business owners in downtown
In this, its first year, NASHCHAIR raised over $3,000 with eleven teams participating and four companies sponsoring the event. NASCHAIR’s debut exceeded the expectations of its originators.
“Just imagine co-workers from a variety of companies racing down a street lined with fans—from kids to grandparents, shoppers and business owners. When you can bring so many different members of the community together and get them excited about something you’re on the right track.”
-Jason Mejeur, SDA
This year’s checkered flag went to a team sponsored by Whirlpool Corporation, with teams from Smith-Dahmer Associates and Kalin Construction taking second and third place spots. Next year’s event is likely to be even bigger, with rumors already circulating of an alternative-energy-fueled chair in the works at Whirlpool’s R and D lab.