California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA)
Chairman's Choice Charity
On April 29, 2015 during the board meeting of Chairman Jay Casey at the 97th Annual CMSA Convention, Vice Chairman Patrick Longo introduced the idea of the CMSA Chairman’s Choice Charity donation program. The program would allow the incoming Chairman to designate a charity of his/her choice, with the Board approval. The CMSA Chairman’s Choice Charity would receive $5,000.00 at the succeeding CMSA convention.
 CMSA DONATES $5,000 TO GRATEFUL GATHERINGS
AS PART OF CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE CHARITY PROGRAM
(CMSA, Cerritos, CA) – On April 23, 2022, CMSA President Steve Weitekamp and CMSA Senior Chairman John Chipman Jr. presented a $5,000 check to Grateful Gatherings Co-Founders Donna Wright Somerville and Chris Flitter at the Excellence High Sierra Awards Luncheon at the 104th Annual CMSA Convention held at Peppermill Resort Casino Spa in Reno, Nevada.
Grateful Gathering is the recipient of the 2021 & 2022 Chairman’s Choice Charity program. This program allows every incoming CMSA Chairman to select a charity, with board approval, to make a one-time $5,000 contribution on behalf of the CMSA.
During Chipman’s extended tenure as the 2020-2022 CMSA Chairman due to the pandemic, he selected Grateful Gatherings as his Chairman’s Choice Charity for both of his years of service. In total, the organization will have received $10,000!
About Grateful Gatherings:
Grateful Gatherings began in 2013 when Donna and her family saw a 10-year-old named Ayisha on the local news talking about being homeless during the holidays. Donna connected with the family and delivered Christmas dinner and presents. A few months later, Ayisha’s family was placed in a new apartment but had nothing to furnish their new home… nothing! Donna emailed 20 friends; within four days, Ayisha’s family had enough furniture and household items to set up their new home and new life.
Grateful Gatherings has turned into a vibrant, close-knit, and dedicated community of volunteers, donors, and corporate partners who help furnish homes of families transitioning out of homelessness or crisis, including single mothers, foster children, and military veterans.
CMSA DONATES $5,000 TO GRATEFUL GATHERINGS
AS PART OF CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE CHARITY PROGRAM
(CMSA, Cerritos, CA) – On April 6, 2021, via Zoom Webinar, CMSA Chairman John Chipman Jr. introduced Grateful Gatherings’ Founder & Executive Director Donna Wright Somerville who accepted the $5K donation.
Grateful Gatherings connect volunteers, donors, and partners in the Bay Area community to help families transitioning from homelessness or crisis into a new home by furnishing it. The organization collects household items (new and secondhand) and mattresses to provide deserving local families a safe, warm, and comfortable home.
The Chairman’s Choice Charity program allows every incoming CMSA Chairman to select a charity, with Board approval, to make a one-time $5,000 contribution on behalf of the CMSA.
During Chipman’s tenure as the 2020-2021 CMSA Chairman, he selected Grateful Gatherings as his Chairman’s Choice Charity, a charity that his family’s company, Chipman Relocation & Logistics, have been involved with over the years.
The California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) is a nonprofit trade association representing more than 300 licensed and insured movers operating in California. The CMSA also includes more than 150 associate member companies. Established in 1916, the CMSA is comprised of 12 chapters strategically located throughout California.
CMSA DONATES $5,000 TO THE PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK
AS PART OF CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE CHARITY PROGRAM
AS PART OF CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE CHARITY PROGRAM
(CMSA, Cerritos, CA) – On April 6, 2021, via Zoom Webinar, CMSA Senior Chairman Thomas McCarthy introduced Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) Board Member and Pancreatic Cancer Survivor Stuart Rickerson who accepted the $5K donation on behalf of PanCAN.
Rickerson was a pancreatic cancer survivor and praised PanCAN for supporting patients and funding research for a cure. He thanked CMSA and its members on behalf of PanCAN.
The Chairman’s Choice Charity program allows every incoming CMSA Chairman to select a charity, with Board approval, to make a one-time $5,000 contribution on behalf of the CMSA.
During McCarthy’s tenure as the 2019-2020 CMSA Chairman, he selected PanCAN as his Chairman’s Choice Charity in memory of his mother that passed away from pancreatic cancer.
The California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) is a nonprofit trade association representing more than 300 licensed and insured movers operating in California. The CMSA also includes more than 150 associate member companies. Established in 1916, the CMSA is comprised of 12 chapters strategically located throughout California.
CMSA DONATES $12,000 TO THE ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
AS PART OF CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE CHARITY PROGRAM
(CMSA, Cerritos, CA) – On April 27, 2019, CMSA President Steve Weitekamp and CMSA Senior Chairman Alan Freese presented a $9,326 check to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Regional Manager-Field Development Jennifer West Castell at the Excellence Awards Luncheon at the 101st Annual CMSA Convention held at Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego, Calif.
The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the recipient of the 2019 Chairman’s Choice Charity program. This program allows every incoming CMSA Chairman to select a charity, with Board approval, to make a one-time $5,000 contribution on behalf of the CMSA.
During Freese’s tenure as the 2018-2019 CMSA Chairman, he selected St. Jude’s as his Chairman’s Choice Charity because of its noble mission. In addition to selecting this organization to receive $5,000, Freese started a GoFundMe account to raise an additional $4,326. To top things off, Victory Packaging donated $2,674 to raise the total CMSA donation to $12,000!
The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital:
“The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.”
The California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) is a nonprofit trade association representing more than 385 licensed and insured movers operating in California. The CMSA also includes more than 135 associate member companies. Established in 1916, the CMSA is comprised of 12 chapters strategically located throughout California.
CMSA DONATES $5,000 TO THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION AS PART OF CMSA CHAIRMAN'S CHOICE CHARITY PROGRAM
On April 22, 2018, a $5,000 presentational check made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) in honor of being 2017-2018 CMSA Chairman John Lance’s Chairman’s Choice Charity recipient. Lance and CMSA President Steve Weitekamp presented the check to Alex Recalde, an MDA camp program participant, and his mother, Leilani Sweeney that attended the luncheon on behalf of the MDA.
The Chairman’s Choice Charity program allows every incoming CMSA Chairman to select a charity, with Board approval, to make a one-time $5,000 contribution on behalf of the CMSA.
During Lance’s tenure as the 2017-2018 CMSA Chairman, he selected MDA as his Chairman’s Choice Charity. This charity is close to his heart because his brother is affected by muscular dystrophy. In addition to selecting this organization to receive $5,000, Lance also helped raise awareness and collected donations from CMSA member companies to bring the total donation to $9,000.
The mission of MDA:
“Fighting every day to free individuals — and the families who love them — from the harmful effects of muscle-debilitating diseases so they can live longer and grow stronger”
CMSA DONATES $5,000 TO NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION AS PART OF CMSA CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE CHARITY PROGRAM.
On May 6, 2017, CMSA President Steve Weitekamp and CMSA Senior Chairman Robert Fraser presented a $5,000 check to National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) Senior Director of Development Danae Johnson at the Oasis Awards Luncheon at the 99th Annual CMSA Convention held at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California.
During Fraser’s tenure as the 2016-2017 CMSA Chairman, he selected NBCF as his CMSA Chairman’s Choice Charity. This charity is close to his heart because two of his sisters are breast cancer survivors. In addition to selecting this organization to receive $5,000, Fraser also helped raise awareness and collected donations for NBCF through his company’s website.
The mission of NBCF:
“The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s mission is to provide help and inspire hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services.
CMSA DELIVERS $5,000 DONATION TO FIRST RECIPIENT OF THE CMSA CHAIRMAN’S CHOICE CHARITY PROGRAM.
On June 21, 2016, CMSA President Steve Weitekamp and CMSA Senior Chairman Patrick Longo delivered a check for $5,000 to the Alzheimer’s Orange County (formerly the Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County Chapter) office in Irvine, California.
During Longo’s tenure as the 2015-2016 CMSA Chairman, he selected the Alzheimer’s Orange County as his CMSA Chairman’s Choice Charity in honor of his late father. In additional to selecting this organization to receive $5,000, Longo also helped raise $5,530 for the Alzheimer’s Association by putting together Team CMSA for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s event at the Angel Stadium in Anaheim on November 14, 2015.
For more information about the CMSA, or to
become a member, call
(562) 865-2900 or (800) 672-1415 |
