MORGAN HILL, CA - As part of its Sakata Gives Corporate Giving Program, Sakata Seed America participated in two walks to raise awareness and funds for the American Heart Association (AHA).
“It is evident that the mission of the American Heart Association is a mission that is near and dear to the hearts of the Sakata Family,” said Kelly LaPorta, Regional Director for the American Heart Association. “Heart Walk is our premiere event for raising funds to save lives from heart disease and stroke, and Sakata has fielded a team for the past six years. Happily, Sakata wanted to do more. They wanted to be sure they could participate at the highest level and raise the most funds and awareness—hence we decided to co-host our first coordinated campus walk for Sakata, and it was a huge success!”
On October 20, Sakata Seed America staff, family, and friends joined the annual AHA Central Coast Heart & Stroke Walk. More than 275 Central Coast residents and visitors gathered for this walk in order to raise life-saving funds for heart disease and stroke. The event, comprised of 19 teams—including Team Sakata—raised over $44,000, according to a press release. Funds raised from the Heart Walk will benefit research, advocacy, outreach, and education.
In addition to this walk, the Sakata team hosted its own company-wide Heart Walk on October 3. The event was staged at seven of its campuses across the U.S., including major locations in Yuma, AZ; Morgan Hill, CA; Salinas, CA; Woodland, CA; Ft. Myers, FL; Mt. Vernon, WA; and Burlington, WA. A first for Sakata and the American Heart Association, Sakata’s coordinated campus walk was the ‘heartchild’ of Jaime Kitz, Program Manager for Sakata Gives.
“Partnering with strong community-minded organizations like the American Heart Association speaks to the essence of Sakata Gives. We love engaging in our communities through activities that contribute to the betterment of both life and culture,” stated Kitz.
To encourage and thank walkers, 400 colorful tulips were donated by Sun Valley Floral Farm, the press release noted. Overall, roughly 110 Sakata employees participated in the two walks and raised over $4,900 for the cause.
For more on how those in our industry are giving back to the community, keep reading AndNowUKnow.
