In November 2023, Renewal by Andersen donated and installed 36 windows to Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, whose mission is ending veteran homelessness. “We don't just want to be a business,” says Nolan Kolrush, [then] General Manager of the Greater Twin Cities Renewal by Andersen. “We want to be a stakeholder of our communities and promote all the good that there is out there. Being able to help to end veteran homelessness; as a veteran, it just makes me tear up, to be quite honest. This is probably the most enjoyable part about my job. To know that the veterans who are living in these units are going to be looking out those windows at this beautiful community and feel like this is their home. We couldn't be happier to be partnering with an organization here in Minnesota helping Minnesotans. Knowing ten veterans will soon call this their home, Nolan remarks, “It represents so much more than a window. It's touching; it really is. I love it.”

“There's a culture in this organization that everyone wants to be a part of,” says Aaron Johnson, Design Consultant for Renewal by Andersen of the Greater Twin Cities. “And we get to bring that to the homeowner every single day.” “I came out here to Craig and Nancy's home and from the moment I got to the front door I could tell that Craig and I had common backgrounds. As the appointment progressed started to find out that he used to fly Huey's in Vietnam. I flew Blackhawks in the National Guard. I wanted to do something special.” Renewal by Andersen donated a lower-level door and front-of-the-house windows as a ‘Thank You for Your Service’. Craig remarks, “Boy thank you! Yes, sir, you got me almost teared up here!” He continues, “[we were] just blown away – it was just the best experience I think that I've ever had. You know, because nobody ever acknowledges any of us veterans from my era. This it was just a fantastic experience.”

On Nov. 6, Andersen earned the status of becoming a Yellow Ribbon Company, paving the way for an expanded focus on supporting our service members, veterans and their loved ones. Minnesota Military Radio Hour host Tom Lyons recently hosted Paul Delahunt, president of Renewal by Andersen, and Missy Smutny, HR director for Renewal. The program asked Andersen’s leaders about the journey to become a Yellow Ribbon Company. As executive sponsor of our new Veteran and Military employee resource network, Paul shared stories from Andersen’s history of supporting the armed forces and how the company’s recent initiatives help us evolve from a “military friendly” to “military focused” company. Missy, a veteran of the Minnesota National Guard and founding member of the Veteran and Military ERN, spoke about the Yellow Ribbon process and creating a road map to further make Andersen a special place to work for our veterans and military families.