SPONSORED FEATURE
At Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company (YMMC) in Newnan, Georgia, employees are known for being the difference—at work and in their community. When a typhoon in Asia disrupted parts supply from a Yamaha plant in Taiwan, temporarily halting operations in Newnan, Yamaha leadership chose to turn downtime into an opportunity to give back. Instead of furloughing workers, the company paid employees for a day of community service.
Yamaha partnered with RiverLife, a Coweta County nonprofit that connects volunteers with individuals in need of assistance. Melanie Reeves, RiverLife’s executive director, said the timing was perfect.
“We work to identify people in the community who need wheelchair ramp access, exterior home repairs, and yard cleanup that they cannot afford to pay for and cannot physically do themselves,” said Reeves. “A ramp request had just come in, and Yamaha needed a project quickly. The timing was perfect, and the turnaround was less than a week.”
The project involved building a 55-foot wheelchair ramp for a young woman who had recently moved in with relatives but faced challenges entering and exiting the home. According to RiverLife project manager John Maniaci, it was “the largest residential ramp we’ve ever built.”
On the day of the build, 20 Yamaha employees arrived on-site. While managing such a large group can be challenging, Maniaci’s planning and the team’s coordination ensured the project ran smoothly.
“Some sections of the ramp were pre-built and ready at the site ahead of time,” Maniaci explained. “Since Yamaha employees are well accustomed to working in teams, this was a perfect match. In literally six hours, we were sanding the handrails and walking away from a ramp that should have taken about two and a half days.”
For the employees, the chance to see the immediate impact of their work made the day even more meaningful.
“To be able to see her go up the ramp and the expression on her face,” said Lakeisa Thompson, a lineside trainer at Yamaha who helped with the project. “She was happy, and her mother was happy about it. It took some burdens off of her and her family.”
“She was kind of in disbelief that we would actually build her a professional wheelchair ramp the way that it would be built if she was to spend $7,000 to have someone come and do it for her,” added Maniaci.
Yamaha’s focus on community service is rooted in its mission to create “Kando,” a Japanese concept of deep satisfaction and joy. At Yamaha, “Kando” means crafting meaningful experiences that inspire and enrich the lives of others. This philosophy drives not only their innovative products but also their dedication to giving back.
“I think it’s a good reflection on the culture that Yamaha has,” Maniaci said. “I can imagine that’s how things run from day to day inside the walls of their facility in Newnan. It was to me just a snapshot of a very good corporate culture that they must have.”
Employees like Thompson, an 11-year veteran at Yamaha, embraced the experience and are eager to continue making a difference.
“I told our president I would like to do it again,” she said. “And I told the people at RiverLife that if they have any more projects to do, I want to be a volunteer to do it.”
Thanks to the teamwork of Yamaha’s employees and the preparation of RiverLife, the ramp—expected to take several days to complete—was finished in just a few hours.
“I was amazed at how quickly and effectively the team worked,” said Maniaci. “Not every group can achieve this level of success. It’s a testament to the professionalism and dedication of Yamaha’s workforce.”
Yamaha’s commitment to fostering strong, engaged communities is central to its mission of creating positive, lasting impacts for everyone involved. This year, join employees like Thompson and consider sharing in the spirit of giving by volunteering at RiverLife or another nonprofit in your county. To learn more about RiverLife visit www.livetheriverlife.com.
