Giving Back: HVAC Companies Supporting Local Causes and Building Trust

The Spirit of Giving

Hilliard, Ohio-based Eco Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Technicians is currently in its sixth year participating in Toys for Tots and its fifth year serving as a local drop site.

“I think a lot of people, including myself, didn’t always get to experience Christmas like a lot of other kids did growing up, so being able to provide a better experience for others is important to me and our team during the holiday season,” says Eco Founder and CEO Aaron Gaynor.

One of Eco’s favorite traditions is launching the holiday season with a massive toy-shopping trip led by the marketing team, donating roughly $2,500 worth of items to Toys for Tots at their headquarters. The kickoff sparks a friendly competition among employees, who challenge each other to bring in even more toys—often filling 20 to 25 large donation boxes each year. The company then extends the initiative to customers through social media, encouraging community involvement by designating all branch locations as drop-off sites and even allowing homeowners to contribute toys directly to technicians during service visits.

Beyond the holiday toy drive, Eco supports several charitable causes year-round. They serve as a corporate partner of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, promoting The Kids’ Mental Health Foundation during Mental Health Awareness Month and contributing annually through a local radiothon. Additional support goes to organizations such as Mid-Ohio Food Collective, Hope Hollow—providing housing for cancer patients traveling to Columbus—and Star House, a shelter for homeless teens, along with various other nonprofits throughout the year.

“Giving back is something that our team prides itself on, not only by providing quality service to our customers, but also by genuinely caring about the community around us,” Gaynor says. “Supporting people through hard times, no matter what they’re going through, helps empower our team to go above and beyond for others and feel good about doing it.”

Sterling, Virginia-based Cardinal Plumbing Heating & Air has focused on ways to give back to the local community for the past year, according to Marketing Director Mandi Ehman. While the company donates to local organizations when asked, it was really looking for an event it could own. Ehman, a regular blood donor to the Red Cross, saw an opportunity to host a community blood drive at the shop, which took place in October.

“We had a great turnout,” she says. “But all the technicians were terrified. We had 25 of our techs and office staff sign up, and on the day of, we had another four who decided to donate. We ended up having 100% turnout, which our area manager said he’d never seen before. The guys were hanging around and watching other people donate, which I’m not sure was the best idea. They were excited for the opportunity, and at the same time, terrified of the process.”

Ehman explained that while community involvement naturally provides marketing visibility, the true motivation for Cardinal is rooted in its core values—treating customers like neighbors and reinvesting in the place they live and work. Giving back allows the team to acknowledge the financial commitment homeowners make in their HVAC systems while also extending meaningful support in return. She noted that charitable initiatives also create opportunities for technicians, many of whom have young families, to participate in acts of service they may not otherwise have time or access to. These efforts fulfill a deeper personal desire to contribute and make a difference.

Ehman shared that the company plans to continue hosting community events, including another blood drive planned for January. Their most recent event brought together employees, community members, and even customers—one of whom volunteered as a host after recognizing the company’s involvement and wanting to participate. The positive response reinforced their commitment to making charitable efforts a regular part of their culture.

Folds of Honor is a nonprofit organization providing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military and first responders. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has provided nearly 73,000 educational scholarships. Josh Campbell, owner of Rescue Air in Dallas, Texas, first got involved with the charitable group 10 years ago when he heard the very first recipient of a Folds of Honor scholarship, Sarah Duncan, speak at an HVAC industry conference. Her father was an F-16 fighter pilot killed in the line of duty.

Deeply moved by her speech, Campbell learned more about the organization and started partnering and sponsoring initiatives to help generate awareness and donations. Last month, he joined the board of directors for Folds of Honor.

“We’re deeply passionate about our military,” Campbell says. “As a society, we’ve done a disservice to the people who protect us in this world. Our military men and women, if something happens to them, not a lot happens for their kids. I’m a dad, and I think where would my kid be without me? Folds of Honor’s mission is to honor their legacy and their sacrifice.”

Campbell attended the Folds of Honor Gala last month, where President George W. Bush was a keynote speaker. Rescue Air donated two rare-breed Shoals Lagotto puppies, along with lifetime training and a skeet shooting experience with two Olympic medalists as auction prizes, helping the organization raise $4.6 million.

Campbell is humble about his involvement, noting he doesn’t do it to help his HVAC business.

“I’m not doing this for marketing,” he says. “But at the same time, I know we've got a platform of tens of thousands of customers that we get to communicate with. Folds of Honor is picking up steam, but there are still a lot of people who don’t know about it. Last year, 7,000 qualified applicants looking for scholarships went unfunded. That’s unacceptable to me. The goal here is to make sure that none of these go unfunded. What I want to do is spread the word. We put a lot in there about what we're doing just because I think if people see that we're doing something, they might, too. And that's the way we promote it—just spreading awareness.”

Campbell also agrees that charitable giving is good for company culture.

“People want to be part of something that matters,” he says. “If you're part of an organization that's giving back, you know that you're making an impact. So you can create a platform where people get to do something that contributes. I think the world's just a better place if we're all doing that.”

It’s not just HVAC contractors who get into the spirit of giving. Munch's Supply raised $75,391 through community events to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, continuing a decade-long tradition of philanthropy. F.W. Webb donated $200,000 to support veteran hiring, workforce development, and family assistance at Boston Children’s Hospital. Lennox donated 402 HVAC systems to North American homeowners and nonprofits this year through the Feel The Love program.

Rheem is also dedicated to uplifting the local community through its engagement program, Heart of Comfort, which aims to unite employees in charitable efforts, offer support to those with urgent needs where employees and customers live and work, and amplify its impact by providing essential home comfort to underserved communities.

“Our Heart of Comfort program brings our teams together to make a meaningful impact in the communities where we live and work,” said CHRO Dipa Homer, Rheem.

Additionally, Rheem partnered with Habitat for Humanity to make homeownership a reality for a military veteran. The new homeowner, Michael, a father of five, has lived in Atlanta for nearly a decade. Rheem was one of the home’s sponsors and also installed a new water heater and HVAC unit while dozens of metro-Atlanta-based employees volunteered on site to landscape and put final touches on the home. The manufacturer also has sponsored the 9/11 Day Meal Pack for the last three years, with over 100 volunteers in 2025.

Giving back to the community is more than a goodwill gesture—it strengthens the bonds between contractors and the neighborhoods they serve. By supporting local causes, contractors build trust, enhance their reputation, and create meaningful connections with both customers and employees.

“This world has a shortage of people who are getting out, spending their time, energy, and talent helping other people,” Campbell adds. “Most of the problems in this nation or in this world aren't that hard to solve if you're doing something to help. Just get out and do something. There's an old figure of speech: ‘There are three things you can do in a situation: the right thing, the wrong thing, and nothing. And the worst one is doing nothing.’”