I just got off the phone with Radio Cab, a Portland, Oregon cab company that my wife found a few
years ago, to book a trip. Last year, we were thrilled to find the company because we've
had negatives experiences, including a near accident, with drivers at other local
taxi companies. In contrast,
we've been so impressed with Radio Cab's friendly customer service and polite
drivers that we never think about calling another company.
My wife reminded me that she decided to call Radio Cab after
reading in the newspaper about an annual program that the company sponsors
during Thanksgiving. This effort started humbly at a grassroots level. In the
winter of 1996, David Yandell , a Radio Cab driver, noticed that there were many
forgotten individuals and families in our community who suffer during the
holidays. They are the victims of life's
every day tragedies - a lost job, divorce, and death of a loved - that cause
them to veer off the tracks into homelessness.
The company established a non-profit Radio Cab Foundation that helps over 1000 families in the Portland Metropolitan every year area buy
a turkey and groceries as part of their "Turkey Project." In addition, Radio Cab has been involved with
other driver-inspired projects and events over the years, from giving backpacks full of school supplies to
students and schools in the Portland
area, to providing elementary school children with their first bicycles and
helmets.
At first blush, a cab ride is a pretty generic service. However, I'll go out out of my way to patronize a business that is generously giving back to the community that it serves. Based on Radio Cab's continual growth, it's a clear example that a company can do well by doing good.
