White Plains, NY – April 23, 2009 –  W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. (Deutsch) celebrated National “Take Your Child to Work Day” with today’s economy in mind. Deutsch invited the Senior Manager of US Alliance Credit Union to talk to their employees’ children, ranging in age from 6 to 16, about why saving money is important and how to go about it. The children learned valuable lessons such as the difference between buying what they want immediately with a credit card and paying interest, verses saving for a year to buy what they want and gaining interest. Children were also taught to put half of their allowance or birthday money away every time they receive it in order to form important money saving habits that can last a life time. Children ages 3 to 5 years old made and decorated piggy banks to encourage them to save money as well.

This is the third year that the company has participated in this event with its employees. “As a family run and oriented company, it is important to the Deutsch Family that their employees feel like their work environment is an extension of their home. This is why ‘Take Your Child to Work Day’ has become such an important part of the year,” according to Bill Deutsch, owner and Chairman of W.J. Deutsch.  “We felt that, given the current state of the economy, and the fact that the next generation will need to be more responsible with their money and have a better understanding of borrowing and credit card use, it would be beneficial to begin educating the children about the benefits of saving money.” 

Bill Deutsch understands the benefits of saving money and investing in the future, having begun W.J. Deutsch & Sons, Ltd. 28 years ago, when he started importing one small French wine brand into the country. Today he has grown the business into the fifth largest wine company in the U.S. alongside his son and CEO, Peter Deutsch, representing 27 premium wine brands from seven different countries, including the most popular wine brand in the United States, [yellow tail]. His company now has 165 employees, and in addition to today’s activities, Bill and Peter also invest in the education of their employees’ children through the W.J. Deutsch scholarship program - awarding $75,000 in college scholarships this year. Deutsch also supports children in need, and provides opportunities for the employees to give back to the community several times a year. At their recent National Business Meeting in Orlando, for example, the company assembled children’s’ wagons as a team building event, donating the wagons,  groceries, toys and $5,500 to the Orlando Day Nursery; a fixture in Orlando since 1921, which supports single working mothers.

Bill commented further, “we are very privileged and thankful to be in a position of growth during these difficult times. Many children today did not have the benefit of going to work with their parents because their parents have been let go due to the recession. It is our responsibility as a healthy and growing business to invest, not just in the future of our company, but in the future of our employees, our communities, and the next generation to help insure a brighter long-term future.”

Take your child to work day is celebrated throughout the United States, and has more than 25 million participant children each year. This is an extremely exciting opportunity for many children, who often are not able to understand what it is that takes their parents away from them each day.  Bringing children to work with their parents, even for a few hours each year, helps them to not only understand what it is that their parents do, but also gives them valuable insight into what they can do with their futures.