EPI-HAB Phoenix, Inc. was founded in 1958 when a group of business and medical professionals came together to provide meaningful employment to individuals with epilepsy. As the medical industry made strides in the control of epileptic seizures, EPI-HAB (Epileptic Habitat) welcomed individuals with other challenges; hearing impairment, physical limitations, and mild mental difficulties. Through its 60 years in business, EPI-HAB has always focused on the abilities of its employees, not their disabilities. And by supporting a variety of businesses of all sizes by providing a wide range of valued hand labor services, EPI-HAB continues to grow.
To commemorate six decades as a stalwart in the community, EPI-HAB celebrated with a thank-you picnic honoring employees, board members, families and friends. The 70+ employees and guests reminisced about previous EPI-HAB milestones and memories, enjoyed a delicious burger and hot dog spread and cut into the celebratory cake.
Over the last six months, EPI-HAB made “Six Decades of Service” donations, totaling $60,000, to a wide variety of organizations, including Soldiers Best Friend, Sunshine Acres, Lura Turner Homes, Cops for Kids, AZ Strut’s Techie Camp, The Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA, Lions Camp Tatiyee, Ryan House and Valley Center of the Deaf. Many of the charities benefiting from EPI-HAB’s giveback campaign support EPI-HAB with employees and work.
When presenting the gifts, EPI-HAB’s leadership was given a guided tour of each local non-profit.
“Phoenix is blessed with a lot of caring people,” said Torrey Rogers, EPI-HAB’s controller. “Everyone was very warm and extremely passionate about their non-profit.”
Torrey was especially impressed with Sunshine Acres.
“Coming from a family where five of six children were adopted, I have a special connection with Sunshine Acre’s mission,” he explained.
Torrey also spent two weeks training to run in the 2018 5K for Epilepsy, an event that helps raise epilepsy awareness and funds to help sustain the Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona. EPI-HAB donated $3,000 in support of the event and Torrey completed the race in an impressive 30 minutes.
Speaking at the picnic, EPI-HAB’s President, Matt Redmann said:
“As we commemorate 60 years, we recall all the many employees, past and present, who have benefited from EPI-HAB’s existence as well as the businesses and individuals for whom EPI-HAB provided services. We think of our woodworking days, our years of assembly and fulfillment of medical devices, our bulk mailings, our cleaning, inspection and packaging of meters and many smaller tasks. Each customer was important. Each work assignment provided EPI-HAB’s people with opportunities. Our sixty years included boom times and lean years, growth and economic downturns. But together, as a family, EPI-HAB weathered the good and bad, and today, our organization is strong and poised to grow. Onward to 75 years!”
Looking to read more about EPI-HAB’s journey to $60K? The recipients and the purpose of the “Six Decades of Service” donations are showcased within EPI-HAB’s blog and social media pages.
To learn more about EPI-HAB’s mission and services, please visit www.epihab.org
