Focused Partnership with RetailROIAddresses Immediate Needs of Haitian Children and Families, Develops Leaders for a Brighter Future
Aptos, Inc., (formerly Epicor Retail), a recognized market leader in retail technology solutions, recently announced its multi-year commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children in Haiti. In partnership with the Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI),a charitable group funded by companies in the retail industry, the Aptos Haiti initiative will include financial support, material resources, business leadership training and hands-on volunteering.
All funds donated to RetailROI by Aptos will go to Lifesong for Orphans, an organization actively involved in serving Haitian youth.With the support of Aptos and RetailROI, Lifesong for Orphans is better prepared to fulfill its mission of providing exceptional education, building residences, fostering business start-ups and instilling the importance of giving back.
Details of the Lifesong Haiti Plan were unveiled yesterday at Aptos Engage 2016, the company’s customer conference, by Andy Lehman, vice president of Lifesong for Orphans. Lehman articulated the significant need in Haiti, including more than 430,000 children orphaned, and how the commitments made by Aptos and RetailROIcan make a difference.
“As the poorest country in the western hemisphere, many Haitian children lack basic life resources such as clean drinking water, education and secure home environments,” said Lehman. “Thanks to the support of organizations like RetailROI and Aptos, the Lifesong Haiti Plan can bring more joy, stability and purpose to Haiti’s youth.”
After Lehman’s address, Aptos CEO and Culture Leader Noel Goggin echoed the significant vulnerabilities of children in Haiti and reinforced the tremendous opportunities Aptos colleagues, customers, partners and others have to create real and lasting change in the region.
“Being an agent of positive change is in the Aptos DNA,” said Goggin. “We’re dedicated tothe local communities of our colleagues and customers, and to impoverished regions like Haiti where our efforts can have a life-changing impact. From funding and mission trips, to business training and mentoring, Aptos is ‘all in’ to create a brighter future for Haiti, working alongside our partners atRetailROI and Lifesong for Orphans.”
To raise donations for its Haiti initiative, Aptos will host a silent auction at its conference on Wednesday, May 4, with proceeds going to RetailROI for the Lifesong Haiti Plan. This silent auction follows a successful silent auction hosted by Aptos and its customers at the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention in January, with auction proceeds and matching donations totaling $16,000.
According to Greg Buzek, co-founder of RetailROI and President of IHL Group, the support of Aptos – and its customers – has greatly contributed to RetailROI’s efforts to provide real solutions for vulnerable children worldwide.
“As a sponsor and highly engaged RetailROI partner, Aptos has made giving back a pillar of its corporate culture,” said Buzek. “Through the dedication of Aptos and its customers, Aptos has helped RetailROI raise the awareness and resources that are so desperately needed by the local organizations delivering frontline support.”
To learn more about how the people of retail are making a difference in the lives of children in need, please visit https://commerceofcaring.org/. The Commerce of Caring podcast series from Aptos highlights individuals who are creating life-changing opportunities through RetailROI and its partner organizations.
About RetailROI
The Retail Orphan Initiative is a charity funded by leading retail technology and solutions providers, consultants, media organizations and retailers. Its mission is to provide real solutions for vulnerable children by raising awareness; by building a sponsor and funding network among retailers, vendors and manufacturers; and by channeling resources to proven, local organizations delivering frontline support directly to those in need. RetailROI has raised millions of dollars for a diverse range of education, health and social projects in 17 countries around the world. More than 90% of the funds raised go directly to the programs they are intended to support. For more information, visit www.retailroi.org.
About Lifesong for Orphans
Lifesong for Orphans is an orphan care ministry whose mission is to "bring joy and purpose to orphans." Lifesong creates in-country solutions for about 3,000 orphans to become strong leaders and break the cycle of orphan life. Solutions come through: Christian schools, in-country adoption/foster care, transition homes, job-skill training, Christian mentors, creating sustainable business, etc. Lifesong also provides innovative tools to remove the financial barrier to adoption. Adoption Matching Grants leverage funds and serve as a catalyst in raising money to cover adoption expenses. Interest-Free Loans maximize stewardship by helping overcome the initial 'cash-flow crunch' that many couples face, and can help new adoptive families as loan repayments are made (creating a self-sustaining fund). Lifesong has helped bring over 2,300 children into adoptive families through Grants and Loans. For more information, visit www.lifesongfororphans.org.
Aptos: Engaging Customers Differently
In an era of virtually limitless choice, sustained competitive advantage only comes to retailers who engage customers differently – by truly understanding who they are, what they want and why they buy. At Aptos, we too, believe that engaging customers differently is critical to our success. We are committed to a deep understanding of each of our clients, to fulfilling their needs with the retail industry’s most comprehensive omni-channel solutions, and to fostering long-term relationships built on tangible value and trust. More than 500 retail brands rely upon our Singular Commerce platform to deliver every shopper a personalized, empowered and seamless experience…no matter when, where or how they shop. For more information, visit www.aptos.com.
SOURCE: Aptos, Inc.
