Tepperman’s Marks 90 Years with $30K in Scholarships

March 17, 2015  by in Furniture Retailing, Industry   

Founded in 1925 by Nate Tepperman, the retailer is now one of the largest independent furniture retailers in Canada.

“For nine decades, our family has instilled the basic family values of loyalty, reliability and trust into our daily business and through our customer service,” said Andrew Tepperman, president. “From an early age, my brother Noah and I were taught that it was our responsibility to give back to those who have supported us and we are proud to continue that legacy with our 90th anniversary of giving.”

Every month for nearly 20 years, Tepperman’s has randomly drawn awards for $1,000 post-secondary scholarships, which have now reached a total $600,000. These awards are invested in the Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan, the largest non-profit Registered Education Saving Plan (RESP) in Canada. This month, nine scholarships will be awarded, drawn from ballots collected in February in each of the four Tepperman’s locations. Scholarship winners will be announced within the next few weeks.

“Our family’s name on the front of the building represents the legacy that our parents Rochelle and Bill, and our grandparents Rose and Nate, have built in southwestern Ontario,” said Noah Tepperman, secretary/treasurer and director of public and community relations. “It’s our privilege to ensure that their legacy not only survives, but thrives, and to remember that we don’t do that alone. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the passion and commitment of our employees. That’s why it was so important to us that we recognize their contributions during this special occasion. This milestone is a remarkable achievement for our team and for the communities in which we serve.”

This year, members of the Tepperman’s team will be eligible to enter for a chance to win a scholarship for their children and grandchildren. Employees currently enrolled in post-secondary education are also eligible, including their spouses. Building on the theme of “Nine in our 90th” there will be a random draw for nine $500 RESP donations for children up to grade eight. High school students will be invited to submit an essay profiling a leader in community service for a chance to win one of nine $750 bursaries. Nine bursaries of $1,000 each will be awarded to college- or university-registered students who submit an essay on the topic of exploring opportunities that inspire innovation.