A New APR In 2018

Happy birthday! (1)

A New APR in 2018
By: Linda Stone

With the holidays right around the corner, I like to take a step back and reflect over the previous year – obstacles that were overcome, lessons learned, and moments that will never be forgotten.

In 2016, we launched the WeCare program with the sole purpose of supporting our contract workforce. In 2017, we evaluated our program and took the feedback of our contractors and made some significant improvements. In 2018, here are a few things we have planned:

  • Quarterly Giveaways
  • Contractor of the Month
  • New Digital Newsletter
  • Discounts to Local Area Attractions
  • Streamlined Email Communication

We also made major updates to our website including easier navigation, an employee hub for our contract workers, and completely refreshed the content and color scheme.

APR also began supporting new Fortune 500 clients in a variety of different locations, which means new opportunities for your career. Make sure to check-in with us at the end of your assignment so we can get you connected with your next opportunity.

I hope this holiday season brings you joy and wonder. I challenge you to reflect on 2017 and to look forward at the new season 2018 will bring. I hope you will utilize APR to help make it your best year yet.

“May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

APR Raises Money For Important Cause

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and APR challenged their employees to wear pink on every Friday in October (There was 5 of them!) and for every employee that participated, APR would donate $5.  With the APR challenge and employee individual contributions, $2,230 was raised!

This particular cause struck close to home, as our founder and CEO Linda Stone is a Breast Cancer Survivor.  Linda has now been cancer free for 17 years. Here are her thoughts on the trials she faced, being a survivor, and encouragement for others.

“It was a great feeling to see APR Employees support the cause.  They were willing to give back to the community by participating in the fund raising event that benefits City of Hope and its Cancer Research Program.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and my treatment plan included a radical mastectomy and aggressive chemotherapy.  Three days before my surgery, APR was awarded a big contract that was going to require a lot of work. APR could not afford to hire someone at that moment so as soon as I got home from surgery, I got busy.  Needless to say, I did not have any down time and had to keep going. A big motivator was having the passion and desire to succeed at what I was doing. I had forgotten that I just had a major surgery and may not survive.  That contract turned out to be a very successful business undertaking, growing exponentially each year.

The most challenging aspect of the cancer I went through was the chemotherapy. I also had a tough time living with one breast and had to carry a prosthesis so people would not notice my missing breast. Keeping a positive outlook in life, having a caring family there to support me, and keeping my mind busy on other activities, were helpful in overcoming this devastating incident in my life. 

 Some encouragement to others: Live a productive life, help those who need it most, and live life to the fullest without hurting others.  Be happy and share your happiness with people around you. Support cancer research even if and when you do not have cancer and believe that someday there will be a cure for cancer and cancer will not be as life threatening as it still is today.”

All donations were given to the City of Hope research and treatment center. Linda Stone chose the charity because she has previously worked with them and supports the work they do. City of Hope not only conducts research for breast cancer, but other forms of cancer as well. They are working on other methods to cure cancer such as using patients own blood cells to defend themselves from the cancer in order to reduce the use of chemotherapy or other harmful methods. Their treatment for every patient is individualized by case because not all methods work the same for every patient. They also help those patients who survive cancer transition to their old way of life with group sessions and support.

For more information on the City of Hope, check out their website: http://www.cityofhope.org/

Pink-Fridays