NewsVGM Donates $10K to Waterloo's Accessible Park Project

RAGBRAI Waterloo Overnight sponsor VGM Group and its employee owners announced today a $10,000 donation to a Waterloo accessible park project.

The announcement was made during a special check presentation on the main stage of the Waterloo RAGBRAI celebration that included an initial $10,000 donation as well as announcement that 5% of RAGBRAI Waterloo proceeds would be contributed to the project as well. 

Pictured L-R: Mike Mallaro, VGM Group, Inc. CEO; Waterloo Community Foundation Board President Wilfred (Mickye) Johnson; Paul Huting, Waterloo Leisure Services Director; and Christa Miehe, President of Moxie and senior leader liaison to the VGM Community Giving Committee.

The accessible park project is part of a planned development on Magnolia Parkway in Waterloo. The Waterloo Accessible Park will be a playground designed for children of all abilities to be built on 1.38 acres on the site of former Edison Elementary School.

“At VGM, we work with companies throughout the U.S. to help them do business better. One of our primary customer communities are home medical equipment providers. These providers across the country serve disabled patients by supplying life-changing medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, ramps and stairlifts.

We believe this Waterloo Accessible Park project is a great fit for VGM as well as for our community. This project will build an inclusive playground for kids of all abilities including users of home medical equipment. VGM employees work every day to serve patients using this kind of equipment and we’re thrilled to be part of this exciting new project,” said Mike Mallaro, CEO of VGM.

VGM is no stranger to supporting community causes. The company contributed $25,000 to be the presenting sponsor of the RAGBRAI Waterloo Overnight. Additionally, they contribute more than $100,000 annually to more than 50 area organizations via their employee-run Community Giving Committee.

“At VGM we believe in making a difference in our community. We like to get involved with projects that help make our hometown an even better place to live and work. We are especially proud as RAGBRAI sponsors to help direct part of the profits to this exciting new project for Waterloo,” shared VGM employee Christa Miehe, who serves as the senior leader liaison to the VGM Community Giving Committee.