Sweets Nominated for Small Private Employer of the Year

The Walla Walla Sweets have developed a strong reputation for creating opportunity both on and off the field

The Walla Walla Sweets have developed a strong reputation for creating opportunity both on and off the field. Having worked closely with the Lillie Rice Center over the past few seasons, the ball club has created opportunities for employment for members of the Walla Walla community that have developmental disabilities and have an incredible work ethic, skill set and passion for making Sweets games a fun community staple. That work was recognized with a nomination, received this week, from the Governor’s Office, as the team was nominated for the Governor’s Employer Award for the 2017 Small Private Employer of the Year.

“We are humbled and honored to receive this nomination,” said team president Zachary Fraser. “We’ve been lucky to have a strong genericos de cialis group of team members since we started in 2010, and the addition of our friends that have come from the Lillie Rice Center has only improved our fan experience.”

The relationship started following a Rotary presentation in 2015 by Jim Corey with WISE and Debbie Dumont, the Human Services Manager for the Walla Walla County, which focused on work opportunities for community members with developmental disabilities and the benefits to both employers and employees of such employment relationships. Fraser was in attendance, and floated the idea to his staff, who moved forward with a plan. The Lillie Rice Center was instrumental in assisting the Sweets to find the right candidates, and team members began working during the 2016 season.

The Lillie Rice Center is a non-profit corporation in the Walla Walla community dedicated to providing employment and support services to individuals with developmental disabilities while enhancing their quality of independence. In addition to their collaboration with the Sweets, the Center works with many businesses in the Walla Walla Valley in finding gainful employment. For more information on the center, please visit http://www.lilliericecenter.org/.

It is a program that Fraser would recommend to other employers in the Valley.

“In any small business, finding people that care about the success of the business on a personal level is a real plus. Our team members from the Lillie Rice Center are passionate, attentive to detail, and are fans of the team – which is a great combination for making sure that fans arriving are having a positive experience.

“They make our game-day business better and the same benefits can be realized by other employers in the Valley.”

The nomination will be celebrated at a ceremony in Redmond, WA on October 31 at 8:30 AM. Staff from the Sweets front office will be in attendance.

By: Walla Walla Sweets

Date: October 10, 2017