George Schaeffer, president and CEO of OPI Products, Inc., rallied employees to join him to support Hurricane Katrina victims. The Schaeffer Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization established by Schaeffer and his family, made a donation of more than $300,000 to the American Red Cross through a matching-funds program.

Between Sept. 1 and 11, Schaeffer challenged OPI employees, employees’ families and friends, independent educators and trainers, OPI distributors, customers, and vendors to rally their resources and make a contribution to the American Red Cross, with the assurance that the Schaeffer Family Foundation would match every donation, dollar for dollar, up to a total of $125,000. Schaeffer extended the date to Sept. 13 since the original goal was met and donations kept pouring in.

“The task at hand is overwhelming, but we believe that every little bit helps,” Schaeffer says. “Through the matching program, OPI was able to make more than twice the impact and do more than twice the good.”