Mastercut Tool Donates Funds to Support Summer Manufacturing Camps from its Annual 5k Run, Walk, Paddle Event

NBT is proud to have been selected for a second straight year as one of the charitable organizations designated to receive funds from the 5K Run/Walk/Paddle for Education held in conjunction with Manufacturing Day in Safety Harbor, Fla. The race was created in 2015 by Mastercut Tool Corp. and the Shaluly Foundation, Inc. in Safety Harbor. NBT has received a total of $13,415.70 in those two years.

What Inspired This Event?

What does a company owner think about when the enterprise he started and grew into a successful corporation is about to celebrate a milestone anniversary? If that someone is Michael Shaluly, president and CEO of Mastercut Tool Corp. in Safety Harbor, Fla., the answer is “how can we inspire new generations of manufacturing workers?”

In 2015, as Mastercut approached its 30th anniversary, Michael wanted to plan an event that would not only bring together its employees from around the world, but also mark the beginning of implementing a goal to impact how youth think about manufacturing. “I’d been one of the many employers in manufacturing who had complained about how hard it was to find qualified employees. We’d watched the decline in the reputation of manufacturing as a career option throughout our company’s history. I decided it was time to do something to help solve what we’d complained about.”

“As a company we had been working on our goals and core values and we wanted to have an event that would bring all our employees together to share in exhibiting those core values in a positive way, not just talking about them.”

Michael decided that sponsoring a fundraising event would be fun for everyone in the community and could provide financial support for programs that helped young people explore or prepare for careers in manufacturing. Soon, the 5K Run/Walk/Paddle for Education was born. Employees of Mastercut Tool Corp. and the Shaluly Foundation, Inc. took on the task of organizing the event, which was held in a shoreline park on the edge of Tampa Bay just after sunrise. That first event included employees, sales representatives and customers of Mastercut in celebration of the 30th anniversary milestone. The Shaluly Foundation, Inc. distributed all sponsorship monies received for the event, so that every penny raised through sponsorships and registration fees would go directly to the event beneficiaries.

From One-time Celebration to Annual Event

It was such a success the first time that Michael decided it should be an annual community event and would coincide with the annual national Manufacturing Day. “Now, on the official date for MFG Day we do plant tours for local students. This year we had 50 students and I hope to be able to identify some interns because of the tour. We’ve got immediate internship openings and there were so many great students on the tour that I hope we can hire several.”

The 5K event has had some unanticipated benefits for Mastercut as well. Michael says that his employees are very enthusiastic about the annual team-building event and it has motivated some of them to a healthier lifestyle that incorporates more exercise.

Hopes for the Future

“I secretly hope this event helps to bring national exposure for manufacturing and all the positive things it provides to the world,” Michael said. “I couldn’t be more pleased that there are some nationally known celebrities like John Ratzenberger and Mike Rowe who are out there talking about the industry in a positive way.” In fact, Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs has
been one of the organizations to receive proceeds from this event for the past two years and Michael noted that he’d first heard about NBT because of an article about Ratzenberger!

“I’d like to see local media out here covering the event and reporting on the importance of manufacturing in our region. I hope that we will be able to attract some of our local and national political leaders to this event in the future, so they can take positive messages about the industry back to their governmental discussions,” he said. “We also want to get more students involved as participants in the 5K event. That’s starting to happen, and we think it is a great way to demonstrate to them just how many people really care about them and want to ensure that they have a proud future in the manufacturing industry.”

Mastercut and the Shaluly Foundation, Inc. choose the organizations that will receive proceeds from their annual event and have selected both local and national organizations each of the past three years. NBT is honored to have been selected twice and appreciates the opportunity to have an exhibit presence at the event. This is the kind of activity that any company could consider starting in their community.

How Can Your Company Fundraise for NBT?

Perhaps your company is planning to celebrate its own milestone anniversary soon, or maybe you want to honor the company founder’s 100th birthday. Those are just two possible reasons to plan an event that is a fundraiser for a good cause. What could possibly be a better cause than something that helps to inspire the next generation to follow in the footsteps forged by all your company’s employees, suppliers, and customers. NBT’s summer manufacturing camp grants make it possible for local community and technical colleges to reach out to young people in middle school and high school and introduce them to the manufacturing industry and its great career opportunities. The scholarship program that NBT has offered since 1990 provides tuition for post-secondary students pursuing studies that will help them secure their first jobs in manufacturing.

In addition to Run/Walk events like the Mastercut event, your locale or the interests of your audience might be better suited to a bike-a-thon, a bowl-a-thon, a golf event, even a miniature golf event. Perhaps your employees are very artistic and make all kinds of fantastic things in their spare time, so a craft sale or bake sale might be a fundraiser everyone can get behind. For advice on how to get started, please contact Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs at foundation@fmanet.org or call 815-399-8700. Ask for our Fundraising Event Idea Kit.