When the folks at Oliver Heating & Cooling submitted their entry into the Brotherly Shove Business Spotlight, a new contest from Firstrust Bank and the Philadelphia Eagles aimed at supporting and promoting local businesses, they did so on a wing and a prayer.
Both literally and figuratively.
“The deadline to enter was Oct. 15, but I didn’t know anything about it until my daughter saw an advertisement on the big screen at the Eagles game on Oct. 13,” said David Oliver, the second-generation owner of the Morton-based HVAC company. “She sent me the link and said that we should apply. That same day, I sent it to our marketing people and asked what they thought. It was the last minute, so I didn’t think we’d have a chance.”
Ashley Dennon, Oliver Heating & Cooling’s Marketing Manager, quickly applied.
The Brotherly Shove Business Spotlight was open to any privately owned, for-profit businesses in Greater Philadelphia with annual revenue between $1 million and $50 million. To nominate themselves, businesses were asked to explain how promotion from the contest would benefit them, how they incorporate Eagles spirit into their business, and how they are committed to serving the community.
A month later, Oliver Heating & Cooling learned that it was selected out of more than 450 entries as the winner.
“(Firstrust Bank President and CEO) Tim Abell called me, and I just assumed he was looking for more information about our entry,” said Oliver. “But he was calling to congratulate us on winning.”
As the winner, Oliver Heating & Cooling will be awarded up to $40,000 in promotional assets, including mention on the Eagles Video Board during a home game, digital billboard ads, paid social media content, radio spots, two tickets for three Eagles home games in Firstrust Bank’s Touchdown Terrace, and more.
With approximately 200 employees, Delaware County-based Oliver Heating & Cooling services residential and commercial properties in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania; New Castle County in Delaware; and Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties in New Jersey.
About that wing and a prayer.
The company’s logo includes a white dove, which illustrates the hope with which Oliver’s father, Joe Oliver, started the business.
“My father was born in 1934, the same year, coincidentally, that Firstrust was founded,” said Oliver. “In 1971, he had been designing helicopters as a mechanical engineer at Boeing, but they had a massive layoff because the government cut back on building helicopters for Vietnam.”
Joe Oliver found himself unemployed, with a wife and six kids. What did he do in that situation?
“My dad got on his knees and prayed,” said Oliver. “He went to church and asked for prayers for employment. One of the members who worked in heating and cooling suggested that he start his own business in that industry. My dad didn’t know anything about HVAC, but he was a smart guy, took a leap of faith, and learned.”
For more than 50 years, Oliver Heating & Cooling has been giving back to the community.
“The dove in our logo reminds us how we got started through prayer and humble beginnings,” said Oliver.
In 1998, Oliver started “Heat for the Holidays,” a program that helps people who are in urgent need of a new heating system but are experiencing financial hardships that prevent them from purchasing one. Over the past 26 years, Oliver has completed more than 80 heating installations at no charge to deserving families and individuals.
“I think ‘Heat for the Holidays’ struck a chord with Firstrust and the Eagles; the Eagles were so moved that they donated $5,000 to the program,” said Oliver. “The promotion and coverage we’re getting from the Brotherly Shove Business Spotlight is going to help us gain more customers and memberships. The more we grow and do well, the more we can give back.”
Learn more about how Firstrust Bank is helping people and businesses achieve success in the very region it calls home.
