Local Business Owner Named 2026 Red Kettle Campaign Chair
The owner of Dave Griggs Flooring America will lead the local campaign to support Columbia's social services.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Dave Griggs Flooring America owner Michele Batye has been named the 2026 Red Kettle Chair for The Salvation Army of Columbia. The campaign, which utilizes volunteer bell-ringers to fund local programs, begins with a public kickoff event at the Columbia Mall.
Why it matters
Local business leaders often chair charitable drives to leverage their networks for fundraising, directly impacting the availability of community services. In Columbia, this campaign maintains the annual funding pipeline required to sustain year-round Salvation Army operations.
Michele Batye manages the 2026 campaign after transitioning to sole ownership of Dave Griggs Flooring America in 2016. The business itself has been a local fixture for 50 years.
The players
Michele Batye
The sole owner of Dave Griggs Flooring America and the 2026 Red Kettle Chair.
The Salvation Army of Columbia
A regional nonprofit organization that provides social services and support programs to residents.
The details
As Red Kettle Chair, Batye oversees the coordination of volunteers who staff collection stations across Columbia. The initiative functions by deploying volunteers to public sites to solicit donations, with the funds going toward diverse local social services. The campaign officially transitions into the public awareness phase with a kickoff event featuring local performers at the Columbia Mall.
Timeline
1989: Michele Batye joins Dave Griggs Flooring America.
2016: Michele Batye becomes sole owner of the business.
November 14, 2026, 11 a.m.: The Red Kettle Kickoff event occurs at the Columbia Mall.
Market Landscape
This appointment follows the long-standing industry precedent of utilizing local business leaders to drive the traditional Salvation Army Red Kettle fundraising model. It represents a continuation of established community engagement strategies used by regional nonprofits to ensure end-of-year support.
Business owners should monitor the campaign's volunteer requirements if they seek to increase corporate social responsibility visibility in the Columbia market. Those interested in supporting the initiative can utilize the official registration channels for organizational participation.
The takeaway
Chairing large-scale nonprofit campaigns provides a platform for business leaders to align their public presence with high-visibility community service. Operators should review the Salvation Army volunteer registration portal to determine if their staff can participate in this year's seasonal drive.
Further reading
Learn more about local community support initiatives in Columbia Philanthropy.
More information
To register as a volunteer or learn about donation drives, visit the Salvation Army volunteer registration portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Columbia Daily Tribune.
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