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Stanley Z. Baker Program Makes First Donation |
| CLEVELAND - J.T. Eaton announced that the newly established Stanley Z. Baker Philanthropic Program has made its first donation to a needy facility. The Turning Point Center in Houston, Texas, is an independent non-profit organization that offers food, shelter and other rehabilitative services to meet the physical and emotional needs of underprivileged adults aged 50 and over. The manufacturer donated a case of 864 glue boards to aid in its rodent control program.
Turning Point Center was founded in 1988 by Isha Salas-Desselle. She sold her home and took her life savings to purchase a dilapidated 34-unit apartment complex, refurbishing it into a safe haven for elderly homeless. Today, its program includes housing, meals, clothing, counseling, aid in obtaining Medicare and other benefits, on-the-job training, continuing education and transportation services. Its primary goal is to return homeless individuals to society as self-supporting citizens. “This population, between the ages of 50 and 62, is a neglected segment of society that has minimal services available to them,” Salas-Desselle, currently director of the project, explains. “Society views this age group as too old for the work force and too young for Social Security. We are the only shelter in Houston that focuses specifically on helping this clientele.” Tom Collier, president of the Greater Houston Pest Control Association, notes his organization is thrilled to be associated with the donation. “It falls in line with what our members want to do, to help provide a better standard of living for everyone in our community,” he says. Named after J.T. Eaton’s longtime leader and industry pioneer, the Stanley Z. Baker Philanthropic Program is intended to serve two purposes: One is to team with pest management professionals to help make charitable product donations and treatment, and the other is to create scholarships for college students looking to enter the professional pest management industry. This donation in particular holds special meaning for the J.T. Eaton team. Dale Baker, Vice President of Sales for the company, says the Turning Point Center donation was done in memory of industry colleague Malcolm Stack, the Bell Laboratories leader who lost his battle with cancer this spring. “Although we were competitors, our team had nothing but respect for Malcolm, especially for his charity work,” Baker says. “We want to honor that compassionate spirit by continuing to help better our communities.” |
Baker purchased J.T. Eaton in 1949 with a $2,500 loan he took against his insurance policy. Before his death in 2005 at the age of 87, he built it up to a multi-million-dollar company, pioneering such products as Eaton’s Bait Blocks, the first commercial paraffin-based rodent formula, in the 1950s. In 1980, Baker created Stick-Em Glue traps and worked tirelessly in improving rodent stations. In 1999, he helped patent an ant and roach product that used just 1 percent of boric acid.
Today, the company is run by Baker’s sons, Ben and Bart. Bart Baker’s son, Dale, recently joined the team this year to continue the tradition for a third generation. In addition to J.T. Eaton, Stanley Baker owned Scent-Off Corp. in his retirement years in Florida.
“He was always interested in industry innovation and helping others,” notes Dale Baker, who helped his grandfather with the Scent-Off business until it was sold in late 2005. “I believe he would be pleased with what we are trying to accomplish with this program.”
The program is intended to serve two purposes: One is to create scholarships for college students looking to enter the professional pest management industry, and the other is to team with pest management professionals to help make charitable product donations and treatment. For example, a PMP wanting to help a non-profit organization with a rodent infestation free of charge could put in a request through the Stanley Z. Baker Philanthropic Program for donated product.
To learn more information about the scholarship program or a donation request, call Gary Schlosberg at 800-321-3421 or e-mail garys@jteaton.com