United Way receives big ‘Christmas Card’ Michigan company donates in name of Scotts Miracle-Gro Company For Immediate Release 20 December 2007

Every year, millions of Christmas cards are exchanged nationwide as friends and family send holiday greetings. But one Michigan company decided to start a new tradition this season. In lieu of mailing Christmas cards to all of its clients, American Profit Recovery, based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, chose to make gifts to local charities in the name of their customers. Wednesday, the company made a $1,000 donation to the United Way of Union County in the name of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, its largest client. “We were looking at our December budget and the prospect of sending out Christmas cards,” said Matt Moskowitz, a partner with American Profit Recovery. “We were looking at 2,500 clients at about $1 apiece. $2,500 on Christmas cards is an awful lot of money. We started thinking about what else we could do with the money. And one of the partners suggested that we donate it to a charity.” “This spreads the holiday cheer much farther than a typical corporate Christmas card... and the entire community benefits...” The partners selected four of their 2,500 clients to honor in this fashion and made gifts to the non-profit organizations of their clients’ choices. Scotts chose United Way of Union County to help take their company’s 2007-08 United Way totals over the $98,000 mark. American Profit Recovery still sent e-greetings to the rest of its client base. “We know our clients. If they’d get another Christmas card, that’s nice, but no big deal. We thought we could do something that would make a difference,” Moskowitz said. “This spreads the holiday cheer much farther than a typical corporate Christmas card,” said Dave Bezusko, Campaign & PR Director of United Way of Union County. “Think about it. Only one person would be in receipt of the card. Now, the entire Scotts company can share in this message. And the entire community benefits as United Way maximizes it to improve the quality of life in Union County.” United Way is 86% of the way toward its $800,000 campaign goal, and projecting to raise over $798,000. Donors who would like to help push the local campaign over the top can make a year-end tax-deductible donation to United Way by sending cash or check to PO Box 145, Marysville, Ohio, 43040. They can also make a donation online at www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org. United Way brings neighbors and resources together in Union County to improve lives. United Way works year-round in partnership with local businesses, non-profit, and government organizations to solve pressing social service issues large and small. With more than 3,400 donors and 1,700 volunteers within its family of 24 Member Agencies, United Way programming serves more than 16,000 Union County residents. For more information, please visit www.unitedwayofunioncounty.org. American Profit Recovery helps large and small businesses manage their accounts receivable, providing solutions to collections recovery. For more information, please visit www.americanprofit.net.