EXAIR celebrates Founder’s Day each year on February 22nd (or the closest working day) in order to commemorate the birthday of our founder, Roy Sweeney. He founded the company in 1983 and drove EXAIR to become the strong, successful and innovative company that it has over the years. Roy led EXAIR for 33 years. Today would have been his 91st birthday. EXAIR has a long average tenure and many of us in the building remember working side by side with Roy. It’s hard to believe that he’s been gone for almost nine years, but his commitment to helping others lives on through all of us.
We make this day a celebration and a day to mark our ongoing commitment to the service of others, in keeping with the values that Roy and his wife Jackie felt (and feel) very strongly about. They both worked hard to support many social causes and events here in Cincinnati and set a great example of what being engaged in your community looks like. We continue to look outside our company, outside ourselves and outside our immediate surroundings, to do what we can to improve the world around us. And we urge others to do the same.
Our day includes a company meeting to recognize Roy, his generosity, and the genesis of Founder’s Day. We take the opportunity to highlight and encourage our entire team to find a place to volunteer that is close to their heart. We are diligent to have resources available for all to research volunteer opportunities and learn about the vast needs of others. Roy Sweeney was also a veteran so having lunch catered by Misison BBQ, who themselves donate to our military and local first responders, also honors Roy.
This year we have selected these organizations, who help our local communities, to receive donations as part of our Founder’s Day celebration:
DAV
Supporting disabled American veterans and their families.
Freestore Foodbank
Supplies 33 million meals per year to those in need.
Lighthouse Youth and Family Services
Supporting their Safe and Supported program for LGBTQ youth.
Cincinnati Works
Partners with all willing and capable people living in poverty to assist them in advancing to economic self-sufficiency through employment.
Wave Pool
Wave Pool is a contemporary art fulfillment center where experimental art connects the community and creates change.
Bethany House
Helps homeless and at-risk families with solutions to achieve housing stability and long-term self-sufficiency.
To further encourage ourselves to participate and engage with our communities, EXAIR has also established an Employee Volunteer Program that enables every full-time employee with at least 90 days of service to volunteer with organizations of their choice during the normal work week with full pay by EXAIR. It is important to be as open as we can to allow any of us to choose a volunteer opportunity that resonates with each of us. We urge everyone to work collectively with organizations in our community to improve the lives of those in need.
As we celebrate Founder’s Day today, we wish Roy a happy birthday. We miss him. We remember what he and Jackie did (and do) for all of us and for countless others. And we pledge to continue his commitment to helping those who need it.
Happy Founder’s Day 2025 from everyone at EXAIR!
Sincerely,
Kirk Edwards, President
