Steven Reny's enthusiasm and vigor help to drive his company. As vice president and managing director of Andover, Mass.-based supplier Standard Business Systems, a division of Standard Duplicating Machines Corporation, he aims to make a difference in the printing industry. He also wants the company to make a difference in society.
Standard Business Systems has been involved with Syracuse, N.Y.-based ProLiteracy Worldwide, the world's largest adult volunteer literacy organization, for 10 years. The charitable group serves more than 350,000 adults in the United States and 47 developing countries. Last month, Standard Business Systems sponsored the group's "Celebrating Literacy" annual conference held in Washington, D.C.
The company began promoting the literacy campaign to fulfill its responsibility as a conscientious corporate citizen, Reny says. "Promoting literacy is a particularly meaningful cause for us at Standard since our products directly relate to the printing and distribution of the printed word," he says. "We felt very positive about taking [the literacy campaign] on as something that meshed well with our philosophy."
Standard Business Systems, which distributes digital duplicating and document finishing products, spreads information about ProLiteracy Worldwide to its clients. "Illiteracy is a significant issue, and for a number of local distributors, it makes sense to get involved at the local level," Reny says. Although he doesn't know how many companies have joined ProLiteracy Worldwide as a result of his firm's efforts, he hopes more businesses will volunteer time or donate services.
Primarily, Standard Business Systems donates equipment and offers printing services to ProLiteracy Worldwide. It includes the group's name on its marketing brochures and has offered services to its publishing division, New Readers Press. The division produces 500 adult educational books and materials for literacy organizations, schools, libraries and other institutions nationwide. Standard Business Systems also supports one of ProLiteracy Worldwide's 1,200 local affiliates, the Eastern Massachusetts Literacy Council in Medford, Mass. Reny recently was elected as the council's president. At the ProLiteracy Worldwide conference last month, the firm donated more than $10,000 worth of services and support, he says.
Promoting a cause isn't easy, Reny says, particularly during tough economic times. "Standard chose to pursue this because we saw it as a good opportunity to exert our influence in what we believe is a very important, vital cause," he says. Fighting illiteracy leads to stronger communities, he says, and the company plans to continue its support of ProLiteracy Worldwide. "We feel good that we're helping to support such a strong organization that is doing so much good," Reny says. "Standard's role is a relatively modest one, but we're very proud of our relationship and we're glad to be involved."
For more information about ProLiteracy Worldwide, call (888) 528-2224 or visit www.proliteracy.org.
--Sara Schonhardt
Catherine Santaniello, ProLiteracy Worldwide's fund development officer, presents a certificate of appreciation to Steven Reny (left), vice president and managing director of Andover, Mass.-based supplier Standard Business Systems, a division of Standard Duplicating Machines Corporation, and Doug Reny, vice president and marketing director of Standard Business Systems. The company has been involved with the world's largest adult volunteer literacy organization for 10 years.
