Sadoff promotes business through metals recycling fundraising program

It was a philosophy of Edward Rudoy, founder of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin-based Sadoff Iron and Metal Co., to give back to the community. His values were passed down to his grandson, Jason Lasky, Sadoff’s executive vice president.

Years ago, Lasky launched a fundraising program at Sadoff, a scrap metal recycling company that processes 350,000 tons of ferrous scrap and 120 million pounds of nonferrous scrap per year.

“I was thinking how do we promote the business and do advertising as well,” Lasky says.

According to Sadoff’s website, the recycling metals for fundraising program provides an opportunity for local nonprofits to raise funds by recycling metals.

“We’re really a facilitator of fundraising,” Lasky explains. “We set up an account for the organization and have members bring materials to us. As a family company, we’ve made a commitment to offer top tier pricing for all fundraising activities.”

Junk for Jerseys

A group of parents decided that the Oshkosh West High School, Wisconsin, football team needed a new look. Players were wearing 15-year-old jerseys at the time, but new uniforms would cost $275 each. Because of school district budget cuts, something different had to be done to raise $10,000 to replace the jerseys.

Junk for Jerseys, a partnership between the school and Sadoff, has become a “staple” in the Oshkosh community, says Jean Framke of Oshkosh West High School’s student services. This will be the fourth year the school partners with Sadoff to raise money for the team.

“Sadoff knows the value of giving back to the community,” Framke says. “We have built up repeat clientele. The team goes out into the community and shows they are ready to contribute. The community has their 'junk' recycled properly, which is great for the environment, and Sadoff gets some great advertising to promote their initiative.”

The drive typically takes place in the student parking lot. Sadoff provides dumpsters and trailers for sorting materials. Framke starts advertising for the drive a month before and sets up a social media page to answer questions on what accepted materials are. The day of the junk drive, more than 70 players and their families volunteer to unload or pick up material. This year’s event will be held at Sadoff’s Oshkosh location.

“We fill 10 dumpsters during the four-hour drive,” Framke says. “That does not include all of the scrap that is donated right to Sadoff. We typically raise $7,000 to $10,000 a year. Sadoff has kept our account open all year long, so scrap can be donated in our name throughout the year.”

The fundraising efforts have helped pay for new helmets, shoulder pads, equipment and supplies, but it has also educated the community on metal recycling.

“There is so much more to recycling than just aluminum cans and water bottles,” Framke says. “Every year, I have a new set of parents that get introduced to what Sadoff does. I train our volunteers how to sort the different types of metals and how to tell what is more valuable. They eagerly learn how to break apart items to get to what is valuable.”

A win-win

One of the best results of the fundraising program is the community learning the importance of recycling and promoting the industry, says Lasky, who runs Sadoff with his brothers, Mark and Bradford.

“One of the things we’re trying to do in the industry is come out of the dark ages,” Lasky says. “In past years, we’ve been looked at as a dirty industry. Because of the type of business that we are, we create value from obsolete items.”

Working in the community has also helped people leverage their resources and “look at the overlooked” as having value, Lasky says.

“Some people struggle to donate in dollars. Some people struggle to donate in time," Lasky says. "Often, people are naturally clearing the way for newer things. When they do that, they can bring it to any of our facilities.”