For the Bickford family, partnership with egm didn’t begin when Jason Bickford joined the Board of Directors. It began generations earlier with a family commitment to showing up for the community.
”My great-grandfather, Lawrence Bickford, who started it, had always been heavily involved with Snohomish, surrounding community in Everett,” Jason says. “He’d served with nonprofits… invested a lot of time with schools.”
That example continued through each generation. “My dad has been very involved with other nonprofits in the area… I knew just growing up that they supported Everett Gospel Mission. I believe my grandfather, both grandparents did too.”
Looking back, Jason says, “I think it really is just… ingrained in the company and the family. And that’s what we’re called to do.”
As Jason became more involved with egm, he saw how financial support and hands-on service could deepen the same long-term partnership.
Financial support has long been part of the Bickford family’s commitment. Serving alongside egm staff and neighbors gave that generosity a more personal connection.
Over the years, Bickford Ford employees have volunteered together, meeting neighbors and seeing more clearly the realities people face close to home.
“Everybody was really excited, exuberant after it,” Jason recalls. “It was a great time spent together… to see like, hey, there are people who are just four miles or five miles away from us dealing with this.”
For many employees, those experiences changed their perspective.
“I think seeing someone’s kind of like awakened or their eyes are opened about what’s going on or how they view others or serving others more than just at work,” Jason says. “Seeing like a servant heart mindset kind of start… that seed being planted and growing would be a big one.”
Mike Bickford has witnessed that same impact.
Mike says serving helped employees connect their financial support with the people and work behind it. “Going over there and meeting the people and serving, it made it hit home,” he says.
That personal connection has only strengthened the family’s commitment.
“I’d tell them, absolutely figure out what you can do as a company for your time, your resources, your budget, and go all in,” Jason says. “I don’t think anyone I’ve ever talked to has regretted it.”
For the Bickford family, partnership with egm has become part of a legacy of learning, generosity and service — one they hope will continue for generations to come.
