Williams & Fudge listed as one of nation's top 10 companies providing support to arts

By Kimberly Dick - kdick@heraldonline.com

Gary Williams pointed to an old wooden beam that helps support the Old Cotton Factory. “Can you imagine what's happened here?” Williams asked. “All we did to it was sand it.”

Turning the former mill that dates to 1880 into a state-of-the-art office building is one of the reasons Williams & Fudge, a college loan collection agency, has been honored with a national award for its support of the arts. The firm was honored earlier this month as one of The BCA Ten: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The award recognizes businesses for involvement in the arts that enhance the workplace, area education and community. Duke Energy in Charlotte, Adobe Systems in San Jose, Calif., and Dollar Bank in Pittsburgh are among others that have been honored.

Supporting the arts is just one of the ways Williams & Fudge is an outstanding example of corporate citizenship and progressive thinking, said Debra Heintz, executive director of the Arts Council of York County.

“From underwriting special events, sponsoring marketing efforts and commissioningpublic art, Williams & Fudge has earned the respect and gratitude of many folks in York County,” Heintz said. The company understands that the arts are an economic development tool, she said.

The Old Cotton Factory already has garnered awards from The Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation, a North Carolina architectural award and a “Timmy” award from the National Housing and Rehabilitation association.

Williams talked to The Herald about the latest award:

Why was your company honored with the BCA Ten award?

“I think it's recognition of theoutstanding job our staff and company has done and will do to support the community.”

Arts are a very important aspect of the community, Williams said.

“It creates diversity, opens our minds to new opportunities, and takes us out of the traditional Southern ways of the town. It allows us to explore a lot of new opportunities.”

Williams said he's honored to represent Rock Hill through this award, stacking up side-by-side with the national brands that won the award this year and in the past.

“Those folks in New York City never heard of Rock Hill. I'm proud of our staff for all the great work they do in the community.”

What are some specific ways the company is helping the community?

“We're involved in schools. We have an employee fund … to help the community in cash and gifts.”

Employees are given time off to volunteer at area schools, including the Northside School for the Arts, Williams said. The company provides employees with tickets to cultural events and food at events for local entertainers.

The company also buys tickets for at-risk children to attend performances and go to museums, Williams said. It works with the Children's Attention Home, a Rock Hill agency that gives a temporary home to children who need a safe place to stay.

“We as a company support numerous arts events. It makes for a better place to work. You're more engaged than just doing the business of business.”

How did you bring the company to the level where it's earning national recognition?

“It's a culmination of the events we've taken over the past few years. I can't help but believe the building and the piece of artwork outside, the Loom, were probably the elements that put us in the top 10.

“The building is a memorial to all the people in the community that built this community.”

The piece of artwork, the Loom, built by North Carolina sculptor Tom Sayre, is for everyone, Williams said. Having art is new a standard for construction in downtown Rock Hill.

“I think it's important for businesses to give back. For so long we had the large mills to create community for us. Then the mills closed, and there's a real void there. It's important for small businesses to give back, to create community.”

How does the renovated Old Cotton Factory promote the arts?

“It's sort of like working in a history museum. We have a very diverse display of the arts. We have a 1924 car; one of the old looms that we spent almost a year to find.”

The mills helped build the Rock Hill community, Williams said, and textiles are all but destroyed now.

The building helps bring about 300 employees to Rock Hill to revitalize the downtown area.

“They're eating, shopping and being entertained here,” he said.