When I interviewed at Equinox in January 2010, co-founder Wayne Lowe explained that he took unpaid Wednesdays off to volunteer at the Family Foundation Fund. At the time, I didn't fully grasp the significance of what he was describing.
After joining Equinox the following month, I discovered how deeply important the Family Foundation Fund (FFF) is to the company and how involved Wayne truly is. The organization recently honored him with its first-ever Fatherhood Legacy Award at FFF's 25th anniversary celebration.
Wayne began volunteering with FFF in 2000 as a mentor. At age 50 in 2009, he committed more substantially by accepting a 20% salary cut to work part-time and volunteer weekly at the Son Farm. His duties include leading a devotional and taking the boys to school, along with errands, clerical tasks, and fundraising. He's currently compiling an alumni database for the organization.
Beyond his weekly duties, Wayne has mentored two participants, most notably Leon Dupree, who entered the program in 2008, graduated in 2015, and now works as a construction supervisor. The bonds developed through the program run deep.
Equinox corporately sponsors the Fatherhood Games and supports FFF's annual fall celebration. Staff members recognize Wayne's passion for this work, even though he is characteristically reluctant to discuss it.
Wayne attributes his involvement to knowing FFF's founder Onnie Kirk and respecting his guidance. As co-founder of Equinox, Wayne has built a great work environment at the company while extending that same spirit of care and investment through his FFF work. It's a legacy that speaks for itself.
About the Author — Amy Oldham is Technical Writer at Equinox Information Systems. To learn more about Equinox, visit equinoxis.com or call (615) 612-1200.