Jun. 13--Holley Heating and Air Inc. is celebrating its centennial with a program that helps Aiken's charities help the community.

In January, Holley debuted a giveaway of $500 per month to a local charity, to run through December of this year. Supporters of Aiken organizations can vote for the charity of the month at www.HolleyHeatingandAir.com or send a note to the company's office at 112 Union St. N.E. Voters receive a $45 off coupon toward any of Holley Heating and Air's products or services; the coupon is a one-time-only offer, though voters can continue to vote after receiving a coupon.

"We're celebrating 100 years in business, and we chose this as a way to give back to the community that's given us so much," said Holley owner Lee Boylston. "What we encourage, if you're part of a group that needs a donation like this, get your group together and vote, and if you don't get it this month, vote again next month. We love sending out the $45 coupons, and we love seeing all the charities we've given $500 to, some of which I'd never heard of before this. It's been a wonderful experience."

Recipients of the $500 contributions so far have included ACTS, the Aiken SPCA, the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Aiken Relay For Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church. A charity can win the voting only once during the year, according to Boylston.

"Since it came from Holley Heating and Air, we chose to put the money to utility assistance for our clients," said Vicki Bukovitz, executive director of ACTS, which received the April donation. "We do assist people with payments to electric companies, and it's really hard for people with low incomes when it's 90 or 100 degrees out, and they're really struggling to make those bills."

For Tom Grillo of St. Vincent de Paul ministry, $500 means 300 pounds of chicken, which goes into a week's worth of meals the ministry provides to the area's needy.

"We are a lay ministry within the Catholic Church dedicated to service to the poor," Grillo said. "In the past year we spent over $47,000 on electricity, heat, water and other needs for 698 clients with a total of 1,870 family members. We provided food to 3,832 families, a total of 215,418 meals to the needy. Also, we spend less than 6 cents on the dollar on operating expenses -- that means 94 cents of every dollar given to us goes to our clients."

The Aiken SPCA was the first recipient, and the donation meant two shelter dogs went to new homes heartworm-free, according to SPCA executive director Gary Willoughby.

"It was definitely fantastic to be the first charity chosen," Willoughby said. "We always try to find sponsorship for heartworm treatments, and both of those dogs were already set to be adopted, so it worked out great. I think it's safe to assume we've seen some animals returned recently because of the economy, and some of our regular donors are giving less often. We're keeping our head above water, but there's always more need than you can imagine."

Holley Heating and Air has long been involved with the community, working with Habitat for Humanity and running two weekly Meals on Wheels routes. The company was named the 2008 Small Business of the Year by the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce.

For more information about the monthly charitable donations or to place a vote, visit www.HolleyHeatingandAir.com or call the Holley office at 649-6551.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.

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