02/16/2022
Sika Corporation’s roofing team kept up one of their favorite traditions once again at the 2022 International Roofing Expo (IRE) with their 12th sponsorship of the Community Service Day.
Community Service Day 2022
Sika Corporation’s roofing team kept up one of their favorite traditions once again at the 2022 International Roofing Expo (IRE) with their 12th sponsorship of the Community Service Day. Sika’s participation began with the original conception of this event with the IRE back in 2010. In the beginning, the Sika Sarnafil team partnered with the IRE to create an event the day before the expo opened that would give back to the local community wherever the event was being held. Based on the success of that very first event, a new tradition was born. Each year, members of Sika, as well as show attendees from across the roofing industry can volunteer to give back to members of the local community.
Rebuilding Together, a national non-profit organization focused on helping revitalize local communities, especially those affected by natural disasters, partnered with the IRE and Sika to help make the program a success. Members of the Rebuilding Together chapter local to the expo help identify candidates in the local community in need of help and choose projects that the sponsorship can help fund. Projects over the years have included local homes, schools and even a local Boys & Girls Club at one point.As in past years, Sika’s donation of $15,000 helped fund the event and pay for the materials and supplies needed on the projects. In addition, six volunteers from the Sika team joined for the full day of volunteer work pitching in as part of the project team.
“This is one of the best events we participate in each year and one I always look forward to,” exclaimed Bill Bellico, vice president of marketing & inside sales at Sika Sarnafil.This year’s IRE took place in New Orleans, which ironically was also the location of the very first ever Community Service Day back in 2010. The very first time Sika was there in 2010, the event was helping give back to those still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina even several years later. Unfortunately, this year’s event also followed yet another severe weather event for local residents. Hurricane Ida came through in the fall of 2021 and greatly impacted a large volume of residents in the area. “New Orleans is such a wonderful community with such amazing culture and people,
it meant a lot for us to be back there once again and helping those in need,” said Bill Bellico.Sika’s sponsorship and participation this year helped fund projects on three local homes in need. As is customary with Rebuilding Together’s program, candidates identified by Rebuilding Together were either people dealing with disabilities, U.S. military veterans or single head of households without the means to improve their living conditions. Projects that volunteers accomplished that day included replacing a fence, building multiple new entry and stairway handrails, painting and much more. The donation from Sika also covered work and materials completed by Rebuilding Together beyond the one-day event.
“Community outreach and giving back are part of the core values of Sika,” said Sebastien Godard, executive vice president, roofing. “We were honored to sponsor this great event for our 12th time and be back in New Orleans where it all started for us,” Godard continued. Sika has already committed to keep this tradition alive next year when the IRE returns to Dallas, TX in February 2023.