Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
The Prattville Chamber of Commerce hosted their monthly luncheon at The Marriott Legends in Prattville. This month was sponsored by International Paper, or IP, with guest speaker Amy Capps with Service Dogs Alabama.
“International Paper has been a Chamber member for almost 40 years. They have not only been an investor in the Chamber, but also a community partner. Community partnerships are essential for building strong and thriving communities. The Chamber and International Paper work together through our business relationship to make a significant impact in our community,” President of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, Patty VanderWal said.
The Chamber’s monthly luncheons are a great opportunity to connect with other business leaders in the area and each month is geared at being educational and completely different. The goal is to gain a little knowledge while building connections in the Prattville area.
“International Paper is a true community partner, and we thank them for their many years of service in our community and their investment in the Chamber,” Chairman of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce Lisa Miller said.
On behalf of International Paper, Mill Manager Brian Spear spoke to guests, confirming that IP has over 39,000 employees worldwide and in the Prattville mill alone, they produce over 1.5 million miles of paper a year equating to over a million tons of paper a year.
“Sometimes we assume that everybody knows about who we are and what we do. Opportunities like this give us a chance to share what we do, the customers that we serve and how much we love this community. International Paper has been a part of this community since 1967. So we are interested in anything that helps make this community a better place,” Regional Communications Manager for IP, Donna Jackson said.
Spear stated that IP loves their community and they enjoy being able to give back in any capacity that they can. In the last five years the IP foundation of giving has distributed $370,000 in local and annual charitable contributions. IP distributes $49,000 and for the Annual United Way campaign IP distributes about $65,000 with a 60% company match, totaling to $100,000 in total.
IP gave the rest of their time on stage to Service Dogs Alabama, a non-profit that IP helps support through donations and funding. In the last four years, IP has donated over $22,000 to Service Dogs Alabama, Amy Capps, a development consultant for Service Dogs Alabama confirms.
Service Dogs Alabama helps to train and place dogs to people in need. The individuals in need could be military veterans and people with disabilities. Service Dogs Alabama also places facility dogs into schools, courtrooms and other facility institutions throughout Alabama. Capps confirmed that the partnership with IP has provided countless children and adults alike with life changing opportunities.
Service Dogs Alabama works with the pups for up to two years from puppyhood to adulthood. After two years, their specialty is decided, and the dog receives additional training within that specialty. Specialties range from medical, emotional support as well as service and countless more.
Service Dogs Alabama brought Knox with them to the luncheon. Knox is about a year old, and still in training. Even though Knox was in training, he wore the red “Service Dog” vest. If a dog is wearing a red service dog vest, Capps stressed that the dog is working, and pets and other distractions are highly frowned upon.
“Not only is IP providing jobs, supporting veterans, the library, museums and local schools, they’re supporting well past that. They’re supporting local organizations, like us, who are providing dogs or other kinds of assistance. They’re just adding so much impact to the community,” Capps said.
