Oct 5, 2011

Light A Candle – Feed A Child:Bridgewater Candle Company Takes Four Authorized Dealers To Haiti For Service Project to Fight Orphan Hunger

Four authorized Bridgewater Candle Company dealers have been selected by Bridgewater Candle Company, a candle and home fragrance manufacturer based in Spartanburg, SC, to participate in a special brand experience orphanage service project in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Bridgewater Candle Company offered the chance to go on the all expense paid brand experience to thousands of authorized dealers. Through a nomination and written entry process four authorized dealers were awarded the opportunity.

The dealers awarded the opportunity include: Green Springs located in Seneca, SC; Country Charm located in Casper, WY; Confetti Gifts located in Kinder, LA and EcoLoco located in Strasburg, PA. The dealers, along with two Grace Direct sales representatives, traveled to Spartanburg, SC on September 29th, 2011 to meet the Bridgewater Candle Company family and tour the manufacturing facility. On September 30th, 2011 Bridgewater Candle Company President, Bob Caldwell, Jr., accompanied the team to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to spend time visiting orphanages and complete a service project that included delivering 700 lbs of much needed supplies. The group returned on October 3rd, 2011.

The dealers asked their customers to get involved by donating supplies to take on the trip, and employees at Bridgewater’s home office also got heavily involved in the collection of supplies. Practical items such as vitamins and toothbrushes were delivered as well as soccer balls, jump ropes and hammocks. Bridgewater also brought plenty of jar candles for the orphanages to burn during the power outages that are frequent in Haiti.

Established in 1997, Bridgewater Candle Company became a leader in the candle market with a reputation for its clean burning candles, full fragranced products and passionate sales team. Bridgewater offers everyday hospitality through fun, friendly, comfort fragrances. From fresh and clean to warm and cozy, these scents create and crystallize those special moments in life worth savoring… Snapshots of Life. Furthermore, Bridgewater Candle Company is committed to sharing its blessings, warmth and hospitality with the rest of the world through the Light a Candle Feed a Child program. In 2010, Bridgewater partnered with Rice Bowls, a nonprofit that feeds and nurtures orphans in developing countries. For every jar candle sold, Bridgewater makes a donation to feed a child for a day.

Through the Light a Candle Feed a Child Campaign, Bridgewater hopes to raise awareness for the global orphan crisis as well as help to fight hunger of orphaned children around the world.

As the orphan population grows into the hundred millions and more children die from malnutrition every day, the owners of Bridgewater Candle Company wanted to find a way to educate people about the crisis.

With the support of its authorized dealers, Bridgewater has been able to provide funds for over 400,000 days of food for orphaned children since the program began.

Started in 1980, Rice Bowls is a 501c 3 non-profit organization based in Spartanburg, SC. Rice Bowls was recognized from the South Carolina Secretary of State in 2006 with the Angel Award. This honor went to the charity that gave the highest percentage of monetary contributions to the cause with the lowest percentage of overhead administrative costs. Rice Bowls works to fill plastic bowls with change and use that change to provide food for 42 grassroots orphanages around the world.

The Bridgewater brand experience trip to Haiti gave dealers the opportunity to get to know the children at the orphanages they are helping to support. They were able to work alongside Rice Bowls employees and see first-hand how the Light a Candle Feed a Child program is changing the snapshots of life for children around the world.

“I feel very dedicated to Bridgewater Candle Company,” said Alison Springs, owner of Green Springs. “After long and tedious candle testing, I selected Bridgewater based primarily upon the clean, long burn and even fragrance throw. What I did not expect was the high level of customer service and the wholesome family nature of the company. We feel very close to the children by selling, promoting and telling customers the good Bridgewater is doing.”

“I feel that it will be a life changing experience for not only those attending the brand experience but to our customers as well,” said Jodi Conklin, EcoLoco founder. “What a fantastic opportunity to share what is learned and experienced on this trip with those that can further make a difference.”

To learn more about Bridgewater Candle Company, visit www.bridgewatercandles.com