🛠️ Rooted in Legacy: How Taylor Machine Works Became a Key Sponsor for Lemons to Lemonade
đź“… Posted: May 13, 2025
When Taylor Machine Works, a privately held industry leader in high-capacity material handling equipment, made a $5,000 sponsorship gift to Lemons to Lemonade, it marked more than just corporate support — it was a moment of meaningful alignment between legacy, resilience, and purpose.
🤝 A Gesture of Belief
During the ACT Trade Show in Anaheim, Robert Taylor, COO of Taylor Machine Works, met with Lemons to Lemonade founder Sophia Donald just outside the Anaheim Convention Center to personally present the sponsorship check. It was a significant gesture — not only because of the company’s generosity, but because of its connection to Sophia’s roots.
Taylor Machine Works was founded in Louisville, Mississippi in 1927 by Sophia’s great-grandfather, Robert Taylor. It’s the same small town where her late father was raised — and where the company still operates today as a global manufacturer of heavy-duty forklifts and container handlers.
“When Taylor Machine Works became a $5,000 sponsor for Lemons to Lemonade, it wasn’t just a donation. It was a full-circle moment. I had pitched the mission of our nonprofit to a company with deep ties to my story, and their support felt like a gesture of belief — in the work we’re doing and in what this project represents. That gift reminded me that real impact begins with courage — and sometimes, it’s deeply personal.”
— Sophia Donald
🧠The Values Behind the Gift
Taylor Machine Works operates on core values that reflect why this partnership means so much:
- Innovation & Quality – “Find a need and fill it with quality products and service.”
- Customer-Centric Engineering – “We engineer and build what you need,” always tailored to customer challenges.
- Resilience & Legacy – For nearly a century, the company has grown through faith, vision, and hard work.
- Reliability & Integrity – Taylor forklifts are known for durability, backed by world-class service and long-term customer relationships.
In many ways, these same values are reflected in Lemons to Lemonade’s mission: building strong foundations for children facing some of life’s heaviest emotional loads — and doing it with empathy, integrity, and long-term impact.
đź’› Fueling Grief Support for Children
Taylor Machine Works’ contribution directly supports Lemons to Lemonade’s grief camp and year-round programming — funding memory-based activities, camper gear, creative healing tools, and peer-led experiences that help kids know they are not alone.
Their gift joins other major sponsors, including:
- Toyota of Orange – $15,000
- Edwards Lifesciences – $5,000
- The Nowell Family Foundation – $5,000
To date, over $45,000 has been raised in 2025, making it possible to host free programming for grieving children throughout Southern California.
📸 See the Moment on Social Media
- 🎥 Instagram: Watch the check presentation with Robert Taylor
- 🔗 LinkedIn: Read Robert Taylor’s post reflecting on Sophia’s father and the sponsorship
🛠️ A Lift That Lasts
Just like their signature Big Red forklifts, Taylor Machine Works continues to lift others — not just with power, but with heart. Their support is helping grieving children rise with strength, courage, and connection.
đź“ŁÂ Want to support Lemons to Lemonade?
Click here to donate, or contact us to explore sponsorship opportunities and align your brand with a mission that matters.
With lemony gratitude,
The Lemons to Lemonade Team
