Customer Spotlight: Hometown Heroes Gala

At TJM, we love to support our local organizations, and we’re especially proud to help nonprofit organizations reach their goals. This month, we were honored to play a role in the seventh annual Hometown Heroes Gala for NAMI Marion County.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Marion County is a local non-profit that provides support services for those suffering from mental health issues, and for families and caregivers as well. The annual gala, sponsored by Ocala’s Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, is a fundraiser and an opportunity to recognize first responders from Marion and adjacent counties.

“This event reaches out to the leadership of every local police, fire, sheriff, and hospital, along with those in 8 surrounding counties, for each department to nominate 3 outstanding people who risked their lives in the line of duty or went above and beyond to save others during the year,” said Leena Williams, community outreach specialist for Hiers-Baxley.

Each honoree receives a challenge coin to commemorate the event.

“Our incredible challenge coin, designed by TJM, is awarded to every nominee and winner,” Williams said. “This product allows us to provide every winner with a durable and useful token of our appreciation for their services.

When we were doing interviews with department leadership to set up this event, they unanimously agreed that a challenge coin would be the best possible prize, and something which \every winner would both cherish and use!”

Hiers-Baxley, the oldest operating business in Marion County, tried a different supplier for the coins before turning to TJM. The results were less than satisfactory, Williams said.

“We had worked with a company which was not local and designed our own artwork for them in house. The design was unappealing (our fault) but something TJM fixed by working with us to custom design something gorgeous,” she said.

Supporting a fellow local business also was a priority, she noted.

“TJM has a reputation in town as being the very best. It is our priority, as a fellow long-standing local business, to work with other local businesses to keep things in our own community,” Williams said. “Not only is TJM locally owned and has outstanding service support, but you share our vision of supporting local non-profits and honoring those who are living and working in our community every day to make it a better place.”

We were able to supply the coins completely ready for presentation at the event.

“We were having to hand-box the coins individually for the ceremony,” Williams said. “Now, TJM designed us gorgeous coins and they came individually packaged in beautiful velvet boxes! It was very convenient because they came ready to be handed out at the ceremony. “

This year’s event honored more than 100 area first responders from 8 counties and four cities for their bravery and dedication to duty even at the risk of their own lives. The challenge coins were a success, William said.

“People were RAVING about them! I hand out the awards on stage each year and as I was passing out their certificates and coins, people would ask “what’s in the box?”  I would tell them it was a challenge coin, and they were delighted!

Some were sharing how they would use them to celebrate at the bar and to show off to their coworkers that they won a “Hometown Hero” award. It is very charming and funny.”

The honorees this year included a special honor for a Marion County Sheriff’s Office dog, K-9 Leo. He was fatally shot while protecting his handler and other deputies in February. For his actions, Leo was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor, the highest agency award that can be presented at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The Hometown Heroes K-9 award was renamed in his memory.

Other special awards presented included a Lifetime Achievement honor for the Ocala Police Lt. Eric Hooper, and the Charlie Caulk Memorial Scholarship awards to aspiring first responders Grayson Chandler and Khary Alexander.

Williams praised our customer service team for their ability to work with her to help make the event a success.

“Matt (Fischer) is exceptional. He is so helpful, so considerate, and so plugged in. He was anticipating our needs, making suggestions for how things could be even better, and let us know that there are other products TJM can help with as well. He even designed a poker chip for our motorcycle “Ride to the Wall” event which we also purchased from TJM,” she said.

At TJM, we are always proud to be able to help our local nonprofits. We appreciate the vote of confidence and the opportunity to contribute to NAMI Marion County’s efforts to help citizens of our region. We’re also honored to be able to help recognize the many first responders in our area who do so much to keep us safe and make our lives better. We look forward to continuing to serve NAMI Marion County for years to come.

For more information:

NAMI Marion County:

https://www.nami.org/affiliate/florida/nami-marion-county/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NAMImarioncountyfl/

Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiersBaxleyFuneralServices/