Celebrating a Year Powered by Purpose

2023-12-12 02:31 PM

We are so much more than just a logistics company. We are difference makers. We are change agents. We are Powered by Purpose.

In 2023, we did so much more than deliver freight. We created opportunities through our dedication to The XEL FOUNDATION, which advocates for autism inclusion and research. You can learn more about the impact we have made on our blog.

We topped off our year powered by purpose with a party to celebrate our company. The R&R Family of Companies 2023 Christmas Party commenced with an awards ceremony and dinner to honor the team’s achievements.

This video about our mission to be ‘powered by purpose’ set the stage for announcing the winners of the first-ever Powered by Purpose Award, the first-ever LEX GO! Award and the Difference Maker Award.

Powered by Purpose Award

Honoring a team member with the Powered by Purpose Award is a first for the R&R Family of Companies this year. All nominees of the award:

Put their family first, but also support teammates in need of help, mentoring and direction
Have the integrity to be accountable, reliable and true to their word
Are passionate about the R&R culture and brand
Demonstrate a positive attitude and excellent interpersonal skills
Were voted for by fellow team members who recognize their value

Presented by the R&R Family of Companies CEO Rich Francis, his wife Kathie, Vice President Ray Francis, and his wife Kim, the Powered by Purpose Award was ultimately dedicated to one exceptional team member based here in Pittsburgh — GT Worldwide’s Operations Manager, Derek Rattenni. Congratulations, Derek!

LEX GO! Award

Lex is an eight-year-old non-speaking boy with autism after whom The XEL FOUNDATION was named. This year we handed out our first-ever LEX GO! Award to two highly deserving individuals who donate continuously to the foundation as LEX GO! Club Members and live by the words “LEX GO! LEX GROW!”

The first honoree decided that $0.54 per load moved wasn’t enough and doubled his donation to $1.08 regardless of the circumstances in 2023. Thank you and congratulations to Tyler Franklin!

The second honoree is his leader and a leader to many. He is a proud supporter of The XEL FOUNDATION and has done so much this year to promote our efforts. Thank you and congratulations to Josh Rulnick!

Difference Maker Award

A difference maker is an individual who makes a one-time donation or in some cases donates their time or resources. The Difference Maker Award symbolizes somebody who goes beyond donating and truly embraces the word and meaning of acceptance.

This year’s honoree went above and beyond, donating over 150 unpaid hours to get The XEL FOUNDATION up and running, including the website, newsletter, board meetings, Network for Good, fundraisers and hands-on volunteering. Most importantly, this individual took the time to learn about autism and now he sees the world differently. A big thank you and congratulations to Mike Lyman!

Thanks to All Involved in THE XEL FOUNDATION

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to every single person within the R&R Family of Companies who has put their power behind our purpose. Without everyone’s combined efforts, we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish what we have. Please take a moment to visit our donor wall of thanks based on this year’s donations — now live on our website!

Get Empowered in 2024

Are you interested in doing your part to help individuals with autism?

There are multiple ways to give back and get involved with the foundation:

Newsletter: Subscribe to The XEL FOUNDATION newsletter to stay up-to-date.
Online Donation: Make an online donation.
Online Store: Make a purchase from The XEL FOUNDATION online store.
Volunteering: Contact us to see how you can get actively involved with volunteer work for The XEL FOUNDATION.
Corporate Donation Program: Talk to us about setting up a recurring donation program for your business so you can be Powered by Purpose, too! Just as the brands within the R&R Family of Companies donate $.54 for every truckload moved, we can help set up a similar program that’s specific to the products or services that your company offers.