2009 Nominees - December

John Porter: Cintas Hero Nominee
North Little Rock, AR — Dear Sir, On December 2, 2009 while passing through a little town called Morrilton my car broke down. My wife and my 3 kids were on our way to Tampa Florida to start a new job. I had lived in Oklahoma all my life and the job I had for the past 24 years was gone over night. In the last year I have lost my home my car and spent all our savings just trying to live. I have a sister in Tampa that had help line up a job for me. I just had to get there. We had very little money to make the trip. Our car broke down in Morrilton and I had no idea of how I was going to get it fixed. It was very cold, windy and pouring down rain. One of your employees pulled over to ask if I needed help. His name was John Porter. Mr. Porter quickly found that my alternator had locked up and burned the belt off. He offered to take me to a parts store. I told Mr. Porter I had little money. Mr. Porter went to the parts store and bought all the things that was needed to fix my car. Belts, alternator and a new radiator hose which was worn and cracked. Not only did he buy these things he also bought hamburgers for all of us. My Porter was a god send to us. I have never taken charity in my life but on December 2nd I needed it. My. Porter stood out in the pouring rain and fixed my car while my family took refuge in the warmth of his car. In addition he called his ex wife who came to visit with my wife and kids and she also brought hot chocolate for my children. Mr. Porter gave his time, effort, heart and money to a complete stranger without hesitation. He also filled my car with gas and gave me a $200.00 gift card to help on our journey. I know he spent at least $500.00 of his money. I asked Mr. Porter if he had a business card and he said he only had one of yours. He wrote his name and number on the back of it and told me if I was ever passing through Arkansas again to call him and the coffee would be on him. If this is the caliber of employee you have than you have a great company. I feel like Mr. Porter sets the bar high for your other employees. I am sending you this to let you know what kind of man you have working for you. I hope someday to be able to repay him. When asked for his address to do just that he told me to help someone in need someday. That would be payment enough. Please thank Mr. Porter again for us. I am up early today to start my new job. It is all due to the generosity of a stranger who will forever be in our hearts. Forever grateful to John Porter - Jeff Hamby.

Stacey Coffin: Cintas Hero Nominee
Knoxville, TN — While on his route, Stacey noticed a small pickup truck going down the street that was on fire. When the truck came to a stop, Stacey, without hesitation, grabbed his extinguisher from his truck and began putting out the fire which was coming from under the hood and underneath the truck itself. Onlookers from a nearby business saw him fighting the fire and brought out their own extinguishers and gave them to Stacey and he kept the fire under control until local firefighters arrived.

Tiffanie McFadden: Cintas Hero Nominee
Philadelphia, PA — I belong to a support group for parents who have lost children. Every year on the 2nd Sunday in December we hold a candle lighting ceremony memorializing them. We display pictures of the children at the last minute we were unable to get a power point projector. Tiffanie allowed me to borrow our locations projector so we could have pictures of our children who have died displayed. Losing a child is very difficult and the holiday season is even harder. Thanks to Tiffanie we had our display.