Z & N Machine Company might be considered “small” by industrial standards, but its owners and employees make a big difference in the Sheboygan Community each holiday season. Company President Earl Ney is passionate about providing quality parts at an affordable price, and takes pride in delivering those machine components, prototypes and custom machinery on time, many of them to local companies.
While that’s good for area jobs, there’s another aspect to Z & N that may be less known, but also as impactful.
In 2013 the company initiated a fund that employees fill through a percentage of their paychecks. Those contributions are matched dollar-for-dollar by the company and, each year Ney and his employees meet to decide where those dollars should go. Although employing only between 5 and 7 workers, over the past ten years the fund has already distributed a total of $76,000 to such organizations as the Salvation Army Sheboygan, Meals on Wheels, Boys & Girls Club, the Sheboygan County Food Bank and others. This year’s $8,000 donation was given to the Sheboygan County Historical Society.
Earl Ney, who was inspired by the TV show “Secret Millionaire”, is urging other companies to create their own contribution fund and get their employees involved in giving back to local charities. He said that “It is hard to believe that a small group of people can make a big difference in some lives.”
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