Happy hearts know how to welcome a happy accident. And once an accident happens, those hearts know how to spread their happiness around.
That’s certainly the case for Karen and Mike Bergin, the owners and operators of Bergin Screen Printing and Etching.
They met, by happy accident, at what could have been a dismal occasion: a training conference for corporate bankers. And Mike stumbled onto their new careers–painting, etching and screen printing directly onto wine bottles—when he fell in love with the work of one artist and began collaborating with her.
30 years later, they now employ 75 people and process more than 12 million bottles per year. Next time you’re in the wine aisle, check out the bottles without the paper labels. Most likely, they’re the work of Bergin Screen Printing and Etching.
And next time you’re looking through a list of supporters for a Wine Country nonprofit, check for Bergin Screen Printing and Etching and you’ll likely find their name.
You’ll certainly find them on COTS’ lists of MVPs—not just for their generous financial support, but for the way Mike and Karen share our mission with friends, neighbors and colleagues.
“We couldn’t wish for better ambassadors,” says COTS CEO Chuck Fernandez. “They have a way of inspiring people to want to get involved.”
It was a happy accident that first brought the Bergins to COTS. Our then board member Bob Billings shared school carpooling duties with Karen and Mike. He invited Karen to The COTS Hour, our annual fundraising breakfast.
“I was absolutely aghast at how many people were homeless and how much need there was. COTS was an outstanding organization that I had known nothing about,” Karen says. “I went home and said to Mike, ‘We have to give these people money. They’re doing incredible work and they deserve our support.'”
“I’ve never brought anyone to the COTS breakfast who hasn’t been profoundly moved,” Karen says. “The work is necessary and so effective.”
Bergin Screen Printing and Etching supports lots of other social services. And they’re big supporters of our local arts scene, especially our local theaters.
Elly Lichenstein, Cinnabar Theater’s Artistic Director, says that although Karen and Mike are too busy to see all the shows in any season, “Their support of us remains unflagging and steady. To me, it proves that the generosity that they show us, year after year, comes from the heart and from the deep belief that our work has great worth in the community.”
The Bergins also give to their employees’ favorite causes, whether it’s a Girl Scout cookie drive, a Little League team or the fight against Diabetes.
“We always refer to staff as family,” Karen says. “It might sound corny, but it’s true. We feel like we’re successful because of all the work they do. We want to show our appreciation to them.”
What else motivates them to give?
“We just feel very fortunate to be in a position to able to help,” Karen says. She remembers watching her own single mom working two or three jobs to raise Karen and her three siblings. “Growing up, we were the beneficiaries of help from friends, family, school, churches…That helped us. Mike has a very generous nature. It’s in our DNA to give back once we were in the position to do so.”
Inspired by the example of their parents, Karen and Mike worked hard to instill a spirit of giving in their own children. Karen worked in their schools, served on the Board for the Waugh School District, and was an organizing committee member of TEDx Sonoma County.
Their kids and grandkids have followed in Karen’s and Mike’s footsteps. “When our kids were teens, at the end of the year, we’d give them a thousand dollars to give to causes they believed in. They did their own research to find out what organizations they wanted to support. We wanted them to have some ownership. All of them have adopted or adapted a spirit of giving back to the point now where they know that one of ways, they can please us most is to make a contribution in our honor. That can be to a cause they love or a cause they know we love.”
Their business is related to agriculture, so it remains open through this health crisis. That involves social distancing protocols, extra cleaning and disinfecting, masks and sanitizers, and temperature checks. To date, no one connected with Bergin Screen Printing and Etching has been diagnosed with COVID-19. But, like everyone in business, the Bergins are anticipating that they or their employees might be affected by the disease. “It’s a delicate balance when it comes to giving,” Karen says. “But we’ll figure it out.”
COTS will figure it out, too. And we are grateful to have the loving support of the Bergins and their company to help us through this challenging time.
Want to read more stories about our business sponsors? Visit our Business Gives Back homepage by clicking here!
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