Our Foundation is Built on Gratitude
In October 2014, Travis and Deb Penrod were reflecting on how fortunate they had been and moved to create and provide the seed money for a private foundation to fund charitable causes. The Second Step Foundation was born. Travis, the CEO of Interstate Companies, Inc., and Deb, invited their adult children to share in the foundation’s operation and mission. The family agreed to serve on the foundation’s board of directors and took an active role in identifying registered not-for-profit organizations whose missions are consistent with the foundation’s goals.
In 2019, they expanded their efforts to include their family business, Interstate Companies, as a partner in the foundation. Now the family and Interstate Companies, along with many of its employees, actively use this foundation to bring good to non-profit organizations in every city in which the company operates.
In Our Communities,
Hunger Persists
Employees Fuel Our Efforts
Many critical needs surfaced in the foundation’s early years, but board members kept coming back to hunger. How can so many people go hungry in America – and the 27 markets served by Interstate Companies. Our mission is currently focused on alleviating hunger and supporting local food shelves.
We are linked to the ongoing success of Interstate, which contributes a portion of its operating profit to the foundation on behalf of employees working in the communities it serves.
“We make a living by what we
get, but we make a life by
what we give.”
Winston Churchill
Relief In Every City We Operate
Every year, SSF donates to organizations in the 27 communities served by Interstate’s divisions – I-State Truck Centers, Interstate Power Systems, Energy Systems, Transport Refrigeration, Industrial Systems, Bearing Systems, Assembly Systems, and Southwest Products.
With COVID-19 affecting so many people, the timing of our partnership with Interstate was perfect. The combined efforts of the family and Interstate Companies exponentially grew the fund and brought needed food for individuals affected by the pandemic.
