Giant Cement Holding, Inc. (GCHI) headquartered in Summerville, South Carolina, operates two local subsidiaries, Giant Cement Company and Giant Resource Recovery Company, Inc. (Grr!), both located in Harleyville, South Carolina.

GCHI takes their role as a community partner seriously.  Through its employees, GCHI works within the community to improve the quality of life for all citizens by supporting students and teachers in public and private schools, environmental organizations and activities, recreational opportunities and public service organizations.

Employees are encouraged to contribute their time and talents and enthusiastically participate in mentoring and tutoring programs, job shadowing and career fairs, judge science fairs, and lead career workshops.  GCHI also annually supports academic and athletic scholarships and awards and provides classroom materials and supplies, such as books, global maps, calculators and newspapers.

“Our employees spend a great deal of time organizing programs where students can understand how important academics and interpersonal skills are in the workplace,” stated Mike Lewis, Giant Cement assistant plant manager. “We are committed to providing our children with life enhancing experiences relating to their future career choices.

As part the Middle School Mentoring program of Dorchester Country District School’s “School to Work” initiative, students visit the plants. While at Giant, the students are introduced to a wide variety of job opportunities, receive an overview on the manufacturing process of making cement and spend time in both the Grr! and Giant Cement chemistry laboratories where they are able to apply their knowledge of science and calculate algebraic equations for chemistry laboratory tests. They also learn about area geology and are treated to a fossil hunt in the quarry.

After participating in the School-to-Work Job Shadowing Program, Giant developed a Career Workshop for high school juniors and seniors. During these 9-hour workshops, students learn how to complete employment applications and create resumes that showcase their special skills and talents.  They are given opportunities to search for jobs and research career requirements through a variety of sources, including the Internet. They also learn how to prepare for an interview by creating their own self-promoting summary, formulating questions to ask the interviewer, and rehearsing how best to answer interview questions. For the culminating activity at the end of the workshop session, students select a job post from a classified ad, write a cover letter, create a resume, and prepare themselves to experience a mock job interview for that job.  Students from Woodland High School, Summerville High School, Holly Hill Roberts High School and Dorchester Academy have benefited from this program.

Giant employees also mentor students every week in the Summerville Elementary School HOSTS (Helping One Student To Succeed) Program.  Teams of employees tutor a 3^rd grader in reading for 40 minutes every Monday and Wednesday.

Giant entered into a High Performance Partnership with Woodland High School in the Dorchester IV School District.

High Performance Partnerships, established as the school-business component working through the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, require a long-term investment of the company’s time, expertise, human resources and leadership skills.  This new program, developed for the 9^th Grade Academy, provides these students with tools and information that will aid them when they formulate their “5 Year Plans” as they prepare for life and careers after high school. 

“Our goal in this partnership is to improve the academic success of Woodland High School students by providing significant resources and by setting an example so other businesses and community leaders will invest in these students,” said Gerry Geier, GCHI Vice President Human Resources.   “Giant is proud to join with Woodland High School in Dorchester County’s first High Performance Partnership. Our students are our best resource, and they need good business mentors.”

GIANT SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY

As a corporate neighbor, Giant supports the organizations and people who provide public services to the community.  The Company works closely with the town and county to organize substations for the rescue squads and donates funds and equipment to area fire departments.

Giant was one of the first five businesses that created the Tri-county Regional Chamber of Commerce in 1992.  Initially, the Chamber office was housed in the Giant Headquarters building.  In order for the new Chamber to have a permanent facility, Giant helped renovate the old train deport in Holly Hill.

Giant donated funds to renovate the grounds of the Harleyville Community Center to create the Giant Cement Community Park.  Giant wanted to give something back to the entire community.  After careful consideration, Giant decided that assisting the Town in the renovation of a central community gathering place would benefit all citizens of the community.

“Giant Cement has always been super good for us.  Whenever we ask for help, Giant has come forward with assistance,” expressed Harleyville Police Chief Neal Dye.

Giant employees have also participated in and raised money for the “Relay for Life” and March of Dimes Walk America.  Not only are employees generous with their time, but they have also raised funds to assist many local organizations. Giant also makes donations to Muscular Dystrophy Association, Special Olympics, town celebrations, Scouting and Veterans Organizations.

The employees of Grr! recently made a $4,000 contribution to The MUSC Children’s Hospital Fund in honor and memory of several employees’ children.  “Because the hospital has touched so many of our lives, we have elected to make this contribution in honor and in memory of the children of our employees who received essential services from MUSC,” said Sharon Peal, Grr! Office Manager.

Employees of Giant and ABC News Channel 4 teamed up as volunteers to beautify the gardens and grounds of Jenkins Orphanage on Youth Service Charleston’s 2003 Serve-A-Thon in recognition of National Youth Service Day.  The 2003 Serve-A-Thon was sponsored in part by Giant.

The Company actively supports youth recreation and donates materials and money to provide equipment, uniforms and ballfield infrastructure.  Employees also give of their time as coaches, scorekeepers and gameday help.

Giant believes in solid community values and encourages its employees to support organizations who promote the development of strong character and a sense of community.