When Norman Bergey purchased an old blacksmith shop in 1924 to convert into a two-car garage, he likely had no idea the legacy that would unfold from there.
More than 100 years later, the Bergey Family Corporation has grown into a transportation enterprise, with 53 locations in four states and more than 1,800 team members and five generations of the Bergey family giving generously to the communities and people they serve.
Glenda Leatherman, Norman’s great-granddaughter and Project Manager at Bergey’s, is among the fourth generation to carry the family business forward with the same foundation that started it.
“Generosity has been a legacy in our family,” Glenda says. “My great-grandpop, my grandpop, and my dad were all intentional about offering the firstfruits of their business as an act of faith. It was more than a habit for them; it was a spiritual gift.”
When they reached an incredible 100 years in business last year, the family decided to mark the moment with the one thing that has been a value from the start: generosity.
“Achieving this milestone gave us the opportunity to reflect on the history of our company, the principles of our family, and the provisions of God,” Mark Bergey, CEO and part of the fourth generation to lead the business, says. “It reminded us that generosity has always been a cornerstone of our family business.”
A campaign for generosity
Out of this generosity “Giving Back Together” was born. In celebration of this business milestone, the Bergey family invited all of their team members to nominate a non-profit organization to receive a $500 grant from the company. To nominate, team members filled out an online form designating which organization they chose and explaining why that cause was close to their hearts.
“Our hope was that this would give our team the opportunity to be blessed by giving to the organizations they care about,” Glenda explains.
One team member nominated radio station WORD FM because they found encouragement there daily. Another selected Adoptions From the Heart as way to honor their adoptive parents. One wanted to give to Keystone Opportunity Center after the organization provided a home for their family when they were once on the verge of financial crisis. Another chose the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention after their son took his life years before. From Wounded Warrior Project to YWAM to Samaritan’s Purse, the nonprofits varied in areas of focus, service, and mission.
“This campaign gave our team members the unique opportunity to give where they saw the greatest need,” Laura Schmidt, part of the fourth generation leading at Bergey’s, says. “It was a real giving game changer for many of our team members and their families.”
Partners in the process
Pulling off this kind of campaign was a huge undertaking for the corporation. The nominated organizations not only had to be vetted to ensure they aligned with the company’s values, but also needed approval and preparation to receive the donations. That’s where the National Christian Foundation (NCF) came in.
“What a gift NCF was to us in this process,” Glenda says. “There was no way this could’ve worked as quickly and efficiently as it did without them.”
As the campaign kicked off, the Bergeys worked with Roger Sandberg, Sara Marconi, and their team at NCF to vet nominated organizations, submit them for addition to NCF’s system, and recommend grants from their Giving Fund to each one selected.
“Generosity is built into the fabric of their business,” Roger says, “so their desire to use such an expansive approach to bless other people wasn’t a surprise. And we were honored to help them do it.”
Seeing the impact
After months of work on the campaign, the results were more than the Bergey family expected. More than 725 team members participated, ultimately resulting in 436 grants. A total of 48 churches across six states and charities in 31 states received funds. Seeing the enthusiastic response, the family quietly made the decision to up the grants to $1,000 per team member.
For the Bergey family, the impact was personal. By opening the door for their team members to share their personal passions, the family learned more about their team and the causes close to their hearts. It gave the Bergeys personal insights into the people they work alongside every day.
“Hearing the stories of how our team members were able to support organizations close to their hearts was truly inspiring,” Mark says. “It not only strengthened our team, but it also brought positive change to our communities and the places our people care about within them.”
A surprise blessing
At the end of the campaign, the family made the decision to surprise the team who served alongside them at NCF with the same offer: to grant $1,000 to the charities and ministries they’re passionate about too.
“It’s really fun to work with a kingdom-minded organization like NCF,” Glenda says. “They have the same desire to impact the world through these grants. Their enthusiasm blessed us, and we wanted to bless them in turn to honor the work they did for us.”
For Roger and his team, it was an unexpected gift to end an incredible campaign.
“It was a fantastic surprise,” Roger says. “It really blessed our team to get such a generous offer to be part of the campaign too.”
Sharing in generosity to celebrate this milestone changed not just their team members and the organizations they selected; it also changed Glenda and her family.
“This is one of the most amazing things I’ve been a part of,” Glenda says. “It’s one of the top things God has given me the chance to see up close.”
Used by God
The entire campaign provided the Bergeys a chance to be used by God in a way they never expected. It also gave them a fresh motivation to keep generosity the focus of all they do in the business and beyond.
“We feel so blessed and humbled to have made it to 100 years and to celebrate it this way,” Laura explains. “Now, our desire is to instill this same culture of generosity for the next 100 years, so that we can have a positive impact on our customers, team members, and communities alike.”
By sharing how God worked generously through their company, they hope to see a ripple effect in other businesses willing to do the same.
“We want to inspire other businesses to see how God can use them,” Glenda says. “Because none of this is about us; it’s about what God did through us and our team. And I hope other people see that God can do the same through them, too.”
