W.S. Emerson Company (PPAI 304091) in Brewer, Maine, has been awarded the Shep Lee Community Service Award by the Institute for Family Business for the distributor’s dedication and support of the greater Bangor region. W.S. Emerson has been a family-owned business since its formation nearly 100 years ago, and its leaders are immersed in supporting community needs with their time and resources.

W.S. Emerson is a supporter of many local charities, and notably, have been a Gold Sponsor of the Northern Light Health Champion the Cure Challenge for the last 10 years. The company has been involved with several athletic programs for more than 20 years, including community youth athletic leagues and the University of Maine Athletics. Senior leadership at the company also serve on numerous nonprofit boards and are active members of numerous charitable community organizations throughout the state.

“Strengthening our area nonprofits gives back to the community that gives us so much. We try to help as many as possible and make many donations every year. In 2018 we donated to over 50 charities and nonprofits throughout our state,” says John Vickery Jr., president of W.S. Emerson.

Betsy Vickery, vice president of W.S. Emerson and the 2015 recipient of the volunteer of the year award from the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce, adds, “We are thrilled with this honor. We have such a great community that we value and are happy to support. We couldn’t have accomplished this without our dedicated employees who show passion and pride in their work, but also in the community that we live and work in.”

The Shep Lee Community Service Award is named for a founder of the institute, and 2019 marked the 20th anniversary of the Institute for Family Business Awards. The institute received 157 nominations for the family business awards, of which seven were honored as award winners.