On Monday morning, January 10, 1910, J.C. Hall deboarded the train in Kansas City, Missouri, and stepped into a new world. A grimy, unkempt Victorian behemoth of a train depot—once heralded by the Kansas City Star as the “handsomest and largest railroad depot west of New York”—greeted his arrival with an overwhelming sense of disrepair. As he traveled through the bustling city, he encountered crowded, noisy streets—a far cry from his serene hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska. Hall, with his shoebox of postcards, set out determined to make his way in the unwelcoming, industrial city.
Decades later, the company that sprung from J.C.’s shoebox pledged the largest amount ever contributed by a single firm in Kansas City history. The Hall family’s pledge quickly transformed the city from a grimy company town into a haven for families and children.
“Their impact is one of a few families in town. We would not be the city that we are without their family. Now that Don Hall Sr. is getting older, it’s not just up to him. He has kids, grandkids, and great grandkids,” continued Sara Young, a long-time associate of Halls Kansas City. “They’re continuing on with that legacy. It’s definitely been [instilled] into them to be givers of the community.”
Over the last fifty years, Hallmark has contributed to the local community not only through financial pledges but through personal, physical involvement in not-for-profits and charitable organizations. Hallmarkers (an endearing term for people who have a sincere respect for others and a commitment to the community) around the world continue to engage in initiatives, such as the Community Assistance Program (CAP), to assist and uplift people of less fortunate backgrounds.
“They always encourage Hallmarkers to volunteer with the Children’s Mercy Hospital but also all around the community,” continued Teri Batcheller, a longtime employee of the company and the current gift shop clerk. “They’re very involved with volunteerism.”
On a personal level, the company has a unique reputation for employee happiness. Corporate businesses, often known for unfriendly and impersonal employee policies, may intimidate workers. However, Hallmark prides itself on its friendly and welcoming work environments.
“It’s that sense of community that—yes, we’re here to do a job, we’re here to earn a paycheck—but it’s fun. Not everyone can say they go to work and have fun. I have fun,” said Batcheller, who has worked at the company since 1987.
The Hall family has become a beacon of hope across the world. What began with a simple idea and a shoebox has become one of the greatest transformations in modern history. The family consistently uplifts and elevates workers and local residents to new levels, allowing people to truly achieve their dreams. Don Hall, J.C. Hall’s son, notably said “We are responsible to our city and to our communities not merely because thriving cities and communities indirectly—or even directly—benefit our company economically. Rather, it is a responsibility born out of the kind of natural, loving, and moral commitment that binds each of us to our own individual families.”
“I am very fond of the Hall family,” Young continued. “They’re what keeps the city going.”
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