This July, Ruan celebrates our 88th anniversary. Our founder, John Ruan, began this company on July 4, 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression. With one truck, a tremendous work ethic, and a resolve to provide for his family, he seized the opportunity and built the foundation for the company that exists today. Eighty-eight years later, Ruan continues to thrive because our team members remain committed to his same values of hard work, integrity, and professionalism.
We celebrate Founder’s Days to honor all Ruan team members, beginning with Mr. Ruan, for their dedication to their work, their families, and the communities in which they live. To honor and celebrate Mr. Ruan’s philanthropic spirit, we incorporate community service into our Founder’s Days events. In addition, we traditionally enjoy gathering in large groups with our families, both at our Des Moines Campus and at our operations across the country. However, like so many other things affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, our 2020 Founder’s Days will look differently.
But throughout Ruan’s 88 years, the team has lived through other difficult times. Our company, like our country, has demonstrated resilience and a willingness to adapt and thrive through changing and sometimes turbulent conditions. We have done this while building on the foundation that Mr. Ruan laid for this company so many years ago. We will continue to do so.
Helping our communities and coming together as teams throughout the month of July is a critical component of Ruan’s culture. Instead of volunteering in-person at local non-profits across the country, team members may participate in virtual opportunities, like making and donating masks or writing letters to nursing home residents. At our Des Moines Campus, we’ve organized donation drives for non-profits that will last throughout the summer as more team members begin to return to the workplace. Though our team members miss the opportunity to volunteer in groups like we’ve done in the past, we are still committed to helping our communities while being safe and adhering to social distancing recommendations.
Ruan’s team members across the country have demonstrated what it means to be part of the Ruan family during this pandemic—and we believe, as we celebrate Founder’s Days, that Mr. Ruan would be proud of their resilience, strength, and commitment to each other, our customers, and safety during this time. We are thankful for their flexibility, dedication, and professionalism.
Happy Founder’s Days!