Category Archives: Community Engagement

L&P Raises Money for Breast Cancer Research

In October, L&P teams in North and South America came together to support an important cause – the fight to end breast cancer. The event was promoted and organized by the Women’s ERG to raise awareness for self-care. In total, our teams raised over $23,000 for life-saving breast cancer research. Here are just some of the pictures and branches that supported the event.

The Carthage team hosted the Susan G. Komen Walk Where You Are Event at the Corporate Headquarters in Carthage, MO. The event encourages groups to walk where they are to raise awareness and support for breast cancer research. Over 50 employees from three branches participated in the walk.

The Hanes & Flooring team in Conover, NC, held their Walk Where You Are Event. Lauren McMahan, Human Resources Director at Hanes, said, “It was a beautiful day and a great opportunity to come together.” Employees who couldn’t walk with the group walked along with their families to support the cause.

ECS Conover in Conover, NC, also held a Walk Where You Are Event and raffled prizes to the 40 team members who participated.

Megan Lowry, Human Resources Coordinator, said, “When we began the fundraising campaign, it became apparent that so many of our teammates have been affected or know someone who’s been affected by breast cancer. The event provided our team, Together We Can, the opportunity to celebrate survivors and raise money for future research.”

LPFP – Fort Worth Prime in Fort Worth, TX, held a bake sale to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. “Many of the partners in our branch have been impacted by breast cancer,” said Aaron Fields, Branch Manager. “We asked if there would be interest in adding a bake sale to our annual chili cook-off in October, with the funds benefiting breast cancer research. The response was a resounding yes.”

Winchester Spring in Winchester, KY, held a walk at a local park and hosted a cornhole tournament after the event. The team raised $7,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Cathy Spencer, Office Manager, said, “Our team was made up of management and partners from the floor. We had a great time and a great turnout. Everyone agreed to make it an annual event.”

The West Michigan Work Furniture Branches — Moiron, Davidson Plyforms, and Genesis Seating — came together to support breast cancer awareness. The branches held various events including penny wars, candy bar fundraisers, and a Wall of Hope. The Moiron team participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Grand Rapids, MI. Shari German, Human Resources Manager at Moiron said, “The day started with a pink sky and a rainbow before the rain started.”

The Leggett & Platt Brazil team, along with the help of the local health department and volunteers, hosted a walk and community event with the theme: “Alone we are petals, together we are roses.” Over 230 women participated in the event. They also held group exercises, and medical professionals helped women book mammograms and offered advice on self-care.

Terrafix Geosynthetics had four Canada branches participate in the Walk Where You Are Event – Toronto, Ontario; Edmonton, Alberta; Calgary, Alberta; and Surrey, British Columbia.

Sarah Peterson, leader of the External Partnerships Committee for the Women’s ERG, who organized the event, said, “I am humbled and floored by the support and success of L&P partners throughout North and South America. Seeing so many come together, taking pride in the event, which seemed to have a personal component for all, and raising awareness for breast cancer is something that will hold a special place in my heart. I am proud and honored to have witnessed our teams do great work together!”

Thank you to our Women’s ERG for organizing and promoting such an important event and for your commitment to our Leggett communities.

L&P Sponsors Third Thursday

L&P sponsored October’s Third Thursday—a family-friendly event where the Joplin, Missouri, and surrounding communities come together to enjoy local food, artists, entertainment, and shops.

The event’s theme was “Fall Festival,” and it attracted a great crowd! Twenty L&P volunteers helped set up the event and offered free games, mini-pumpkin decorating, a photo booth, candy, and popcorn to attendees. Our volunteers handed out more than 600 bags of free popcorn and helped over 100 kids decorate pumpkins!

We are grateful to all of our employees who made Third Thursday fun and successful! Check out some photos from the event below.

Walking to Fight Heart Disease

Recently, 19 team members participated in the American Heart Association’s Four States Heart Walk at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO. Combined with a contribution from L&P, the walkers raised nearly $3,800 for the American Heart Association and their fight against cardiovascular disease – the number one killer of all Americans.

Thank you to all those who participated and continue to uphold our value of putting people first!

L&P Supports Carthage Area United Way Golf Scramble

More than 65 L&P volunteers helped host Carthage Area United Way’s annual Golf Scramble. From planning to hosting the event, our volunteers helped register teams, set up stations, collect donations, and much more.

Together, L&P raised nearly $16,000 for the Carthage Area United Way! Thank you to everyone who participated in making this event successful and continue to uphold our values of putting people first and doing great work together.

L&P Celebrates Manufacturing Day!

On October 6, L&P branches joined manufacturers across the United States to celebrate Manufacturing Day.

Manufacturing Day allows L&P to open its doors, showcase the potential of modern manufacturing, and foster interest in manufacturing careers. It’s also a chance to celebrate our employees and their dedication to delivering quality products to our customers.

To celebrate our Carthage Spring branch, Carthage, MO, hosted over 60 community members, high school students, and Leggett employees and their families, providing tours and a glimpse into the production of our bedsprings.

In India, the Automotive team celebrated with a special meal and a lucky draw contest for all employees.

In China, L&V Automotive celebrated with a luncheon, a presentation acknowledging their achievements, and even handed out accolades to individual employees.

We are thankful for our employees who stand by our products and inspire the next generation of modern manufacturers!

Four Tips for Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—a time to remind ourselves of the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure we’re taking steps to protect ourselves from cyber threats.

To recognize this important topic, we want to share some cybersecurity tips with you:

  • Stay informed. Keep an eye out for news about online scams and tricks.
  • Be careful who you trust. Don’t give out personal information unless you’re sure you know who you’re communicating with.
  • Keep your devices updated. Make sure your computer, phone, and other devices have the latest security updates.
  • Protect your phone. Treat your phone like your wallet — don’t leave it unattended — and lock it when it’s not in use.

To learn more about cybersecurity awareness, including resources and tools, check out the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

Back-to-School: L&P Supports Bright Futures and Organizes Supply Drive

As August rolls around, so does the start of a new school year for many students. In order to give back to the communities where we live and work, L&P recently made a contribution to Bright Futures Carthage’s back-to-school program.

Bright Futures is a non-profit organization that brings together community resources to meet children’s basic needs so they can succeed in school and beyond. Our donation helped purchase backpacks for nearly 1,700 students!

In addition, corporate team members organized a school supply drive, collecting donations in one of our L&P trucks, which made its way to our Carthage, Missouri, facilities and our corporate office. A team sorted through nearly 2,000 contributions, many of which were packaged items like crayons and markers, and divided the supplies which were donated to five area schools: Diamond, Neosho, Carterville, Carthage, and East Newton.

Thank you to our teams for working together to put people first!

How Giving Helps You

You know that giving benefits others, but did you know it’s also good for you?

When we donate, volunteer, or give gifts, we’re doing some good for others and ourselves. Here are three things we learned about the personal benefits of giving:

  • Giving helps your health. When we give, our brains release feel-good hormones, which make us feel happier. Giving can also lower blood pressure and cortisol levels, which are responsible for making us feel anxious or stressed.
  • Giving enhances positivity. When we are generous, our perception of others becomes more positive, causing us to feel closer and more connected to others. Giving can also increase gratitude and help us feel connected to a bigger picture beyond ourselves, which can help cultivate meaning in life.
  • Giving strengthens your circles. Generosity is contagious. When we give, we also inspire others — both near and far to us — to give. Since we’re all parts of multiple circles or communities, it’s no surprise that, when we invest in the places where we live, work, and play, we’re also investing in ourselves.

References

Brower, Tracy, PhD. “Giving Is Good—For Others, but Also for You.” Forbes, 28 Nov. 2021, www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/11/28/giving-is-good-for-others-but-also-for-you/?sh=7aa5caf623a1. Accessed 6 July 2023.

“Five Reasons to Give to Charity.” Charities Aid Foundation, www.cafonline.org/my-personal-giving/long-term-giving/resource-centre/five-reasons-to-give-to-charity. Accessed 6 July 2023.

Suttie, Jill, and Jason Marsh. “5 Ways Giving Is Good for You.” The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, 13 Dec. 2010, greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/5_ways_giving_is_good_for_you. Accessed 7 July 2023.

“Why Giving Is Good for Your Health.” Cleveland Clinic, 7 Dec. 2022, health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health. Accessed 6 July 2023.

Looking to Give Back: L&P Employees Visit Safe Harbor

Nine L&P employees, representing four of our business units in North Carolina, met in Hickory, NC, to learn about Safe Harbor—a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to help meet the needs of women and their children.

During a lunch-and-learn session, they learned how Safe Harbor helps women who are struggling with homelessness and substance use disorder.

“We visited several facilities and listened to a young woman share her current journey in recovery from abuse and addiction—it was powerful,” says Samantha Howell, Vice President of Human Resources. “We discovered there are many ways we can support Safe Harbor, and we are looking forward to gathering together to plan our next steps.”

Thank you to our employees for doing great work together and for looking for ways to give back to our communities!

L&P employees pose for a photo in front of Safe Harbor’s Community Center

L&P Celebrates Belonging at Joplin’s Third Thursday

L&P recently supported Third Thursday, a family-friendly event where the Joplin, Missouri, and surrounding communities get together to enjoy local food, artists, entertainment, and vendors. The theme for June was “You Belong in Joplin,” celebrating the June 2020 proclamation from the city recognizing inclusion, diversity, and equity efforts.

At the event, L&P employees hosted a booth where community members – kids and adults alike – could play games to learn about Leggett and win L&P swag and treats. Contests included U.S. and world puzzle maps representing states and countries where L&P has locations, a “guess the phrase and its meaning” game in various languages that L&P employees speak, and L&P trivia.

Lynn Werner, a member of L&P’s ID&E Team and a volunteer at the event, shared, “My favorite part of the event was playing L&P trivia with a few L&P retirees who came to the booth. They shared stories of their work at L&P and were so proud that Leggett was present at the event.”