Raising Hope History

Due to the popularity of the program, in 2009 CLARK renamed it “Raising Hope for a Cure,” officially launching our philanthropic arm of the business.

As the Raising Hope for a Cure program grew, so did our commitment to finding new ways to support the community. In 2010, CLARK introduced the Volunteer Paid Time Off Program, offering each employee 12 hours of paid time off each year to go out into the community and make a difference.

By 2012, the Raising Hope for a Cure program expanded beyond pallet jacks, into full sized forklifts painted in the signature Raising Hope pink, with our CLARK dealer network supporting our fundraising efforts every step of the way.

In 2014, CLARK hired a full-time Public Relations manager, whose goal was to grow the program and expand our efforts year over year. We renamed the program “Raising Hope” as a symbol of our commitment to supporting a wider group of individuals in need. Over the ensuing 8 years, the Raising Hope program has grown in scope and reach, now serving over 65 organizations in the Bluegrass region.

CLARK works closely with those organizations, providing volunteers to support their efforts. CLARK employees can frequently be found building homes with Habitat for Humanity; packing healthy meals for schoolchildren in need; or working with our Veterans through the VA Hospital and Lady Veteran’s Connect. In 2014 CLARK expanded the Volunteer Paid Time Off program to 16 hours per employee, allowing us to support a greater number of organizations annually. The CLARK Raising Hope program meets our philanthropic partners where they need us the most—through the donation of time, talent, energy, and dollars, CLARK supports organizations in our community that are aiding and creating hope for those in need.

In 2019, CLARK expanded the Raising Hope program yet again, inviting our Dealer Network to support the program directly through unit sales. Through the combined efforts of CLARK and our Dealer Network, the Raising Hope program has grown in contribution and size, allowing us to have a greater impact than ever before.

And, as CLARK sets the standard within our Dealer Network, we also set the standard for good corporate citizenship in our community. Working together with other local businesses, we created the Powerhouse of Giving, and together have magnified our impact for those in need.

In 2023, CLARK decided to make the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk our flagship walk and flagship philanthropy partner. In 2023, CLARK employees raised over $18,000 for the Heart Walk, through donations, employee competitions, and matching company dollars. Additionally, over 75 CLARK employees and their families attended the Heart Walk in Lexington, KY. Heart disease affects 1 in 5 people, and is easily prevented through a healthy lifestyle, heart disease and stroke awareness, and treatment programs. The American Heart Association has been actively working towards better treatments and cures for heart disease for nearly 100 years, and CLARK is proud to partner with them to continue their lifesaving mission.