With a Spirit of Giving: Honoring the Family Tree
There’s a certain coincidence in the community outreach that Debbe Borders leads at Schnitzer Steel’s corporate office. Four generations ago, Russian immigrant Sam Schnitzer came to the U.S. looking for a new life in the land of opportunity, and started a small, one-man scrap metal venture. His legacy endures in nearly a century of family business success.
Today, Debbe and employees at the corporate headquarters dedicate holiday outreach to a "Giving Tree” that provides contributions to their local community. In years past, contributions were directed to Head Start and other organizations that helped inner-city children. Today, many of the gifts – household items, furniture, food and toys for the children – are given to Russian immigrant families who have come to Portland. Debbe and the team work year-round to raise funds in anticipation of making the holidays bright for families in need. They know it’s just what Sam himself would have done.
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