Océ Employees Build Bikes for
Air Force Kids

A team of more than 260 Océ employees from the U.S., Germany, The Netherlands, Canada and Mexico, has contributed more than 2000 volunteer hours to assist the children of Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases enlisted personnel.

During a special team-building event at the company's 2011 National Sales Conference, the employees built and decorated ninety-five bicycles for kids who otherwise couldn't afford them.

Océ is an international leader in digital document management and delivery.

The volunteers assembled four different sizes of bikes for boys and girls ages six to fourteen, complete with helmets, flags and personal notes from each team to the child who will receive the bike.

First Sergeant, Joel Buys, part of a group of enlisted military advisors looking out for service personnel and their families, said:

"The generousity of Océ will allow us to make the holidays a little brighter for Air Force families. For many of these kids, this will be the first bike they've ever owned. The Océ contribution will mean the world to them."

Mal Baboyian, president of Océ North America's Production Printing Systems division, said:

"This one-of-a-kind experience embodies perfectly the Océ pledge to serve as a responsible corporate citizen. It is a small way that Océ can reach out and provide a helping hand to the members of the community who need it most."

In addition to nine first sergeants who were on hand to help out with the event, sixteen local children ages five to thirteen judged the bikes based on criteria such as 'first team to complete one bike', 'first team to complete and decorate a second bike', and 'coolest' or 'best-decorated bike.'

At the conclusion of the event, Océ presented the child judges with store gift cards and invited them to select a bike of their own to take home.

Patrick Chapuis of Océ said that building the bikes was a rewarding experience that touched the hearts of everyone who participated.

"It was even more meaningful when we saw the looks on the faces of the child judges when we told them they could take home their favorite bike. They had no idea that they would receive bikes themselves."

Source: company press release