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Mazel
Toy!
54
Giving Back
Retailer of the Year Tapper's and customers find
golden opportunities to help others.
RONELLE GRIER
Special to the Jewish News
or 25 years, customers have
trusted Tapper's to help
them find that perfect gift
for any occasion — now the
jeweler is commemorating its own
anniversary by giving something back.
To celebrate its 25th year of business,
Tappet's has implemented a "Give 25 —
Get 25" program, wherein customers
receive a $25 gift certificate in exchange
for a $25 donation to a local charity.
Contributors can choose, from a list of
26 diverse organizations, including Yad
Ezra, Gilda's Club, the Haven,
Children's Leukemia Foundation and
Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center.
"Since May, which was our actual.
anniversary month, we've raised over
$20,000," said Steven Tapper, who co-
owns the West Bloomfield jewelry store
with his brother, Howard Tapper.
The program will continue through
Dec. 31.
• Another charitable activity that
Tapper's sponsors every winter is its
annual Coat Drive. For the past 11
years, customers have donated previous-
ly worn winter coats, as well as new hats
and gloves, for local children and adults
who are in need.
"Since we've started doing this, we've
collected more than 7,000 coats," said
Steven Tapper. "It's a great program
because we're doing something so tangi-
ble.
This year, the coats will be distributed
to Orchards Children's Services in
Southfield and Baldwin Church Center
in Pontiac.
"So many of the children in our foster
homes are in need of warm coats, hats
and mittens. We can't thank Tapper's
enough for their graciousness," said
Kimberly Burton, vice president of cor-
porate and community relations for
Orchards, which provides support and
housing for children at risk.
While Rumpelstiltskin may have
turned straw into gold, Tapper's is turn-
ing gold into a way to help children
who are fighting cancer.
Customers are asked to bring in their
scrap gold or platinum; which is sent to
a local refinery and exchanged for cash.
Tapper's then makes a donation to the
local "Kids Kicking Cancer" program.
"People are bringing in links from
chains that were shortened, or_a lone
earring whose mate has disappeared,"
said Steven Tapper. "When you have
healthy children, you realize how blessed
you are. We wanted to help children
who are in pain. This program [Kids
Kicking Cancer] is non-denominational;
it's just about helping kids."
This year, Tapper's has teamed up
with the local chapter of the dental fra-
ternity Alpha Omega to collect leftover
gold from dental procedures. To date,
more than $15;000 has been raised this
way. The campaign is ongoing, and cash
donations also are accepted.
. Steven credits his brother and partner
Howard for being the creative force
behind many of Tapper's charitable
activities.
"The 'Kids Kicking Cancer' program
was Howard's idea," said Steven. "His
innovative thinking is always generating
new ways of bringing better health to
people who need it."
Tapper's opened its doors in 1977,
occupying 1,000 square feet in an office
building on the corner of Northwestern
Highway and 12 Mile Road in
Southfield.
Eight years ago, when the Tapper
brothers moved the business to its cur-
rent location in West Bloomfield's
Orchard Mall, they expanded to 11,000
encouraging their customers to give as
square feet.
well.
The spirit of giving at Tapper's extends
"Tapper's is really a stand-out."
to the staff
"Being named Retailer of the
Steven and
"We have a great staff, which
Year is really a great honor,
Howard
really helps us reach out to their
especially on our 25th anniver-
Tapper with
respective communities," said
sary," said Steven Tapper. "We
Steven Tapper. "We share a set of donated coats believe in doing what we can to
values, and we ask our associates to be given to honor the community that's
less-fortunate
to commit to upholding these
honored us for all of these
),
people.
values, too. "
years.
This year, Tapper's was named
We work very-hard to make
the Michigan Retailers Association's
a great jewelry store, but we also work
2002 Retailer of the Year in the mid-size
hard to make a difference in this com-
category. Businesses are judged on their
munity," he said. "We're always looking
involvement in, and contributions to,
for ways to give something back." ❑
their respective communities.
"Tapper's really impressed our judges,"
said Tom Scott, vice president of public
Tapper's is still welcoming dona-
affairs and communications for the
tions of previously worn winter
Lansing-based MRA. He said the honor
coats and jackets for children and
was given "not only because of their
adults in all sizes, as well as new
strong record of community involve-
hats
and gloves. For information,
ment, but because of their creativity."
contact
Tapper's, (248) 932-7700
Scott said Tapper's "Give 25 — Get
or
(800)
337-GIFT, or visit the
25 program "demonstrated their com-
store's
Web
site: vvwvv.tappers.com
mitment to improving the lives of others
not only by giving of themselves, but by
11/8
2002
41