JK Harris Uncovered

September 11, 2009

Since JK Harris announced our partnership with Trident United Way this summer, our employees have been working on our upcoming pledge campaign, as well as preparing for volunteer work, with United Way’s Day of Caring.

Nationally, the United Way has been sponsoring the annual Day of Caring since 2001. Locally, Trident United Way has the honor of playing host to the nation’s largest Day of Caring. This day is set apart for organizations needing assistance to partner with groups of volunteers who bring in the manpower, tools, and donations, if necessary, to complete the requested project.  The United Way acts as a go-between, partnering volunteers with these organizations in need of aid.

The volunteer committee at JK Harris chose three projects to work on. We sent two small groups of employees out to local elementary schools. Half of these employees spent the day reading and talking to children, providing them one-on-one attention and sharing their own personal favorite childhood books and stories.

The second group of volunteers went into a school that wanted to refurbish a classroom and turn it into a science lab. The school did not have the resources or manpower to do this on its limited budget, so they submitted their project to United Way. JK Harris employees spent the day cleaning, organizing and painting a space mural in the lab, which will continue to be enjoyed by children for years to come.

Due to the nature of our business we cannot let all of our employees spend the day volunteering outside the office, so we chose a third project to be done inside the office. The volunteer committee selected the Pajama Project so those employees who could not leave work could still help out in a big way.The Pajama Project has a local Charleston chapter, which donates books and new pajamas to children who are going into foster homes or are waiting to be adopted. Their goal is to provide something of comfort in a time of uncertainty for these children.

Since our hours revolve mostly around the hours of the IRS, we cannot let all of our employees participate frequently in outside volunteer work. This was a special event for the employees who participated and they truly enjoyed it. We look forward to a continued and successful partnership with Trident United Way.

Link: Day of Caring Press Release from the Charleston County School District

JK Harris shows its charitable side

Over the years, JK Harris and Company has served more than 225,000 taxpayers in need of representation before the IRS and/or state taxing agencies. But JK Harris and its employees haven’t stopped there.

In fact, JK Harris employees, and John Harris himself, have donated thousands of dollars to hurricane victims, families of fallen firefighters, fellow employees and even animal rescue shelters.

July 2009

Recent JK Harris employee blood-drive with the American Red Cross.

December 2008

JK Harris employees came together to help the homeless of Charleston, the ones with fur and four legs, who for the time being called Pet Helpers Rescue and Adoption Shelter their home. The original goal was to raise $1,200, which would care for one healthy animal each month for a year. When all was said and done, JK Harris employees donated $895 in cash, as well as numerous dog toys, dog treats, cat food, a cat tower and several towels. And John Harris, a dog lover and dog owner, chipped in the remaining $1,605 to make the total cash donation $2,500.

“A large number of our employees have pets of their own, many of which are rescue animals,” John said. “Helping homeless pets is something that is very near and dear to many of our hearts. And, many of our employees are active volunteers at various animal rescues and shelters in the Charleston area.”

September 2008

John Harris extended the hand of relief for JK Harris customers who were victims of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike by offering them flexibility when it came to making their monthly payments to JK Harris.

“The unfortunate truth is that the victims who owed a tax debt before the hurricanes, still owe the tax debt afterward,” John said. “I can understand the plight of these hurricane victims. And I would like to help as many as I can.”

July 2007

Nine Charleston firefighters lost their lives battling a fire at a furniture store in Charleston, SC. The loss of the nine firefighters was the biggest loss of firemen anywhere in the U.S. since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Once again, JK Harris employees rose to the occasion and raised $9,000 through cash donations, payroll deductions and donated PTO. And John Harris matched, dollar for dollar, the first $5,000 that was collected to bring the grand total to be given to the City of Charleston Fireman’s Fund to $14,000.

“These families have experienced a tremendous loss,” John said. “I am very proud that our employees have shown where their hearts and minds are – with the fallen firefighters and their families.”

Spring 2007

JK Harris employees came together to help one of their own in a time of need. Again employees donated cash, some donated through payroll deduction, and others donated PTO to help a fellow employee confined to a wheelchair purchase a new specialty van so he could drive himself to and from work. A total of $26,000 was raised and donated by JK Harris employees. Again, John Harris matched this amount, dollar for dollar, for a total of $52,000 to put towards the $80,000 van.

“Terry has never wanted to be treated special, and he has never asked anyone at this company to do anything for him,” John said. “Terry needs to know that we want to help him, not because we feel sorry for him, but because helping people makes us feel good, too, especially good people like Terry.”

September 2005

JK Harris employees reached out to help victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Some donated cash, some donated through a payroll deduction and other donated their Paid Time Off (PTO). When all was said and done, they raised more than $15,000 to help the victims of these two devastating disasters. But that’s not all. John Harris matched that dollar amount, and a check for more than $30,000 was presented to the Charleston Chapter of the American Red Cross for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief.

“When people can come together and raise this much money for a cause, it reveals the fabric of what this company is all about,” John said.

John Harris also extended the hand of special relief for JK Harris customers in the Presidential Disaster Areas by deferring their monthly payments to the company through December 2005.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” John said. “Customers in the affected areas have so much on their minds, we hope this will alleviate some of the pressures they are facing now and into the coming months.”

JK Harris gives back through a variety of charities

At JK Harris and Company, our company and our employees believe in giving back whenever possible. I feel the type of work we do attracts employees who like to help others and we are proud to have such kind, generous employees. These employees generously give up their time and money to a variety of wonderful charities and churches or belong to organizations that raise funds for charity. We would like to recognize some of the deserving organizations our employees help.

4-H
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
American Legion
American Red Cross
Amnesty International
Archmore Academy
A Way With Words (Grief support group)
The Avery Institute for Afro-American History and Culture
Berkley County P.A.W.S. (Animal Shelter)
Berkley County YMCA
Bethel House
Big Brothers, Big Sisters
Books for Children
Boy/Cub Scouts of America
Breast Cancer Awareness
Broward Outreach Center
Camp Happy Days and Special Times
Cancer Sucks Foundation
Charleston Animal Society
Charleston County Detention – Chaplaincy program
Charleston Men’s Choir
Chi-Ro Fund
Coastal Carolina MENSA
Coastal Pre-Release Center
Crisis Ministries
Delray Medical Center
Epilepsy Foundation
Families Helping Families
Feed the Children
First Baptist Church of Lantana
Florida Initiative for Suicide Provention, Inc.
Florida Suicide Prevention Coalition, Inc.
Foster Parents Plan
Francis Willis SPCA
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Future Farmers of America
Girl Scouts of America
GLOW – God’s Love of Women
The Good Cheer Fund
Goodwill Industries
Grace United Methodist Church
Habitat for Humanity
Hearts and Hope (helps children deal with loss of a parent)
His Way Ministry
Hospice of Charleston
House Rabbit Society
Independence School
Legacy Cathedral
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Lieber Correctional Institute
The Links, Charleston Chapter
Little Bethel Outreach Ministry
Local litter cleanup
Lowcountry AIDS Foundation
Lowcountry Food Bank
Lowcountry Justice Corps
March of Dimes
Marine Life Center of Juno Beach
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Mayor’s Committee of Summerville
Ministry of Caring
Muhammad’s Mosque of Charleston
My Sister’s House (Women’s Shelter)
National Crime Victims (counseling for battered women and children)
National Kidney Foundation
Pet Helpers Rescue and Adoption Shelter
Program for Torture Victims (PTV)
Project Christmas Child
Raising Our Self Esteem (ROSE)
Relay for Life
Ronald McDonald House
South Broward High School
South Carolina Democratic Party
South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
Southern Baptist Convention
Southern States Rescued Rottweilers, Inc.
Special Olympics
State of Florida, Office of Suicide Prevention
St. Helena’s Church
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
St. Peter’s First Born Church
Summerville Catholic School
Summerville Mayor’s Committee
Summerville YMCA
Timberland High School PTA
Toys for Tots
Trident Literacy Association
UNICEF
United Way
Vision Community Choir
World Harvest Ministries of Charleston
World Vision International
Zonta International, Charleston Chapter

---