Stemilt Receives Civil Rights, Social Justice Award

Stemilt Growers and its founding family, the Mathisons, were chosen to receive one of three 2017 Civil Rights and Social Justice Awards by the city of Wenatchee, Wash., and its Diversity Advisory Council during its annual Multicultural and Martin Luther King Jr. Festival. This is the 13th year that the city has presented Civil Rights and Social Justice awards to local business leaders.

Stemilt was selected as the winner in the business category for its impact in the lives of children and families, migrant workers, the homeless, and other underserved or disadvantaged groups in the greater Wenatchee area.

The company’s long-time program offering its employees free, on-site English classes through the Wenatchee Literacy Council and its recent $150,000 donation to Lighthouse Christian Ministries to aid in the building of a new community soup kitchen were two examples of how Stemilt is making a difference in its community.

Stemilt was also praised for the unique Stemilt Family Clinic, a medical clinic and pharmacy, located at its Euclid Street facility, that offers free primary care services to all company employees and their dependents. Stemilt’s employees are well known for their generosity and service in the local community. For the past four years, Stemilt’s employees have joined together to give every child in foster care in central Washington a gift from their respective holiday wish lists.

“This is quite the honor for the Mathison family and the entire Stemilt team,” said West Mathison, Stemilt president/CEO. “Our company mission focuses on cultivating people, and these programs were recognized are a step towards doing that. We have the best team at Stemilt, and are grateful for their commitment and hard work in making our company, and our community, better today than it was yesterday."