Giving back has been part of our DNA ever since our company first began. We believe that joy and fulfillment come from giving as much or more than what you receive – those are the values Norm and Rosemary Byrne brought to the table back in 1971. One of our earliest efforts in assisting others began shortly after establishing ourselves in Rockford, upon realizing many of our workers needed quality childcare. So Rosemary and daughter Kathy – leaning on faith and gumption – established Wee Folk Child Care Center in 1989. Today, it flourishes as a fully accredited public facility for both Byrne employees and the community. For decades, we’ve also supported efforts that advance English as a second language, or ESL. We have helped scores of our employees – many who hail from foreign countries – learn English en route to earning their U.S. citizenship. We’ve partnered with Rockford-based Nugent Builders on a number of donated construction projects, offered financial support to Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, North Kent Connect, ArtPrize, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Kids’ Food Basket and many others. Norm and Rosemary Byrne sponsors scholarships and educational programs at several universities and area high schools as well. One of our newest philanthropic partners is Sleep In Heavenly Peace, an organization that helps build beds for local children in need. During the pandemic, we donated products to support frontline workers and healthcare staff, including face shields created by our own Byrne Tool + Design. All that said, we’re just as proud of the ways our employees support one another in times of need. Without fanfare, they’ve banded together to help co-workers who have suffered a house fire, are in need of medical intervention, or just require a boost between paychecks. After pulling together an event to support our communities, we often gather to celebrate its success. And those celebrations are usually something pretty special. But what else would you expect from an Irish company founder who claims to be half-leprechaun?
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