Giving and gratitude are part of the culture at Schooley Mitchell, a cost-reduction franchise. Many franchisees are drawn in by the opportunity to help reduce expenses for local businesses and nonprofits. By Sarah Lindauer
Giving and gratitude are part of the culture at Schooley Mitchell, a cost-reduction franchise. Many franchisees are drawn in by the opportunity to help reduce expenses for local businesses and nonprofits.
One such individual is David Dow of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Dow is known in his community, as well as across the entire Schooley Mitchell system, for the work he does with nonprofits in his personal and professional life.
“Through some rough childhood experiences, I developed a deep well of empathy. I don’t feel sorry for people – I feel their situation deeply and am compelled to help,” Dow explained. “Growing up, even as a young child, I wasn’t just involved with but organized aid to indigenous peoples, families suffering food insecurity and homelessness and other social impact issues.”
These experiences would go on to form Dow’s career as an entrepreneur.
For 34 years, Dow and his partner have been donors, volunteers and advocates for many important causes, including founding a mainstream catalog serving LGBTQ communities.
In 2020, when it came time for Dow to choose a new career path, a franchise seemed like the best way to empower his work with nonprofits.
“I eventually purchased a Schooley Mitchell franchise because I came to realize that I could build my office and my brand to serve nonprofits locally and around the country,” Dow explained.
He’s now in his third year with Schooley Mitchell and has devoted the majority of his time to serving nonprofits with a uniquely qualified business model to help them. To date, Dow has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations doing important work across Illinois and the U.S. He also regularly gifts Schooley Mitchell with generous donations to nonprofits for Thanksgiving.
Dow has built success and driven real change due to one important factor many might overlook: empathy.
“Empathy is everything every day, and that’s not hyperbole,” Dow shared. “Pity is passive and easy to move on from. Sympathy may be heartfelt, but it’s actionless. Empathy is understanding how someone feels, putting yourself in their position, and doing something to help them move forward.”
Sarah Lindauer