History
Randy Heiligman was born in 1959 the fourth of five children. His parents Froime and Bernice Heiligman discovered his entrepreneurial spirit early. They encouraged him at a young age, and he always had projects lined up.
It wasn’t long before young Randy had his first real business. At the age of sixteen he started selling pizzas at local nightclubs. While business was successful, especially for a man so young, Randy wasn’t satisfied.
While working on his pizza business, he decided to branch out in to something different. At the age of 18 he had an opportunity and started his first franchise. He was the youngest person to be grated a franchise opportunity with Baskin Robins. Randy had always been an independent thinker. Franchising, while profitable, didn’t hold his interest for long. He gathered resources and ideas and expanded his endeavors.
Randy wasn’t afraid to give any business model a try. He owned a book distributing company for some time. He started a company that placed vending machines all around the Twin Cities area. He owned a parking lot management company running several lots in downtown Minneapolis. It’s rare to find a man with such many-faceted interests and abilities.
There were more ideas, and more businesses in Randy’s head. As time went on, little did anyone know, not even randy, the reach that some of his ideas would have.
Randy Heiligman, the inventor.
During early 1983, Randy had an idea get stuck in his head. Everyone at some point during that time had been frustrated trying to get ketchup out of a bottle. Randy, unlike everybody, decided to sit down and solve the problem. After months, prototypes, and what had to be a lot of messes, he had it. Randy Heiligman had invented what would become his first patent.
This patent inspired Heinz, to come up with their own version of the ‘upside down bottle cap’ design. The experience left Randy feeling a bit frustrated but still resilient. This wouldn’t be Randy’s only patent. About a decade later, in the early 90’s Randy set his sights on his next problem. It’s a problem that would grow to be increasingly popular in our homes. That problem was clean tasting water.
At some point Randy began taking a keen interest in water and water filtration systems. His mind, always looking to improve on things it encountered, raced going over designs. Water filtration systems had been slowly improving over the years. There was progress, but there hadn’t been innovation.
In 1990, Randy Heiligman created what would become his most famous patent. It was called a “Faucet-mounted water filter with wall inlet and annular chamber.” Though, most people wouldn’t know it by that name. After it was sold it would become the base of many residential water filtration systems. In fact you might have one attached to your faucet right now.
This set of a storm of new water related patents over the next few years. It culminated in another day to day patent for many people. In 1993 he patented a water filter built in to a coffee maker. You probably have one in your coffee maker today. That little invention is another marvel brought to you by Mr. Heiligman.
3M Innovative Properties Company (3M)
Brita Water Filter Systems Limited
General Motors Corporation
Behr America, Inc.
Hach Company
General Electric Company (GE)
Brita Gmbh
Delphi Technologies, Inc.
Alticor Inc.
Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
Whirlpool Corporation
Briggs & Stratton Corporation
Honeywell International Inc.
Moulinex S.A.
Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. (Philips)
Amway Corporation
Kohler Co.
Robert Krups Gmbh & Co. Kg
Filtrex Holdings Pte Ltd.
Philanthropy
Randy has always focused on giving back. His business skills and tenacity have been a boon for many non-profits. The Heiligman family has helped generate tens of millions of dollars for charities. Some like Make-A-Wish Foundation and Disabled American Veterans are well known. Many lesser known charities have also benefitted from their hard work and generosity.
Another area of passion for Randy is animals. Over the years he has lived with dogs, fish, birds, and many animals in between. Randy has a soft spot for non-profits aimed to improve the quality of life for animals.
Coming from a large family and with several children of his own, Randy has a soft spot for children. That’s why he also looks for non-profits related to children and their wellbeing. He’s happy to support charities with a mission to serve local under-privileged children.
Thank You From USO Metropolitan New York
February 6, 2020
Dear Loren and CDF Board of Directors,
Congratulations on your incredible milestone of donating over $80 million to your charity partners! As one of your recipients, all of us here at the USO of Metropolitan New York are incredibly grateful for your generosity. Your commitment allows us to continue supporting our military, veteran retirees, the wounded, ill, and injured veteran community, and their families.
We would like to especially thank National Fundraising Management (NFM) and their leaders, Bill Bigley and Randy Heiligman. We understand that their efforts have made a huge impact in the success of Car Donation Foundation. We applaud their work and appreciate all they have done to impact so many.
Again, on behalf of the entire team at the USO of Metropolitan New York, thank you for supporting our military, veterans, and their families. We are truly grateful for your commitment!
With gratitude,
Amanda Scott
Director, Development
Thank You From Car Donation Foundation
February 7, 2020
To NFM staff;
The Board of Directors of Car Donation Foundation (CDF) is proud to announce the achievement of a milestone goal of having surpassed $80 Million in donations to our charity recipients. We look forward to achieving our next goal of $100 Million in donations!!!
Our program has been made possible by the tireless efforts and ingenuity of our fundraising company, National Fundraising Management (NFM). Led by William Bigley and Randy Heiligman, NFM and its tremendous employees have been the workhorse behind the achievements of these wonderful goals. We wish to thank you for your dedication and your ongoing vision in helping CDF continue its mission to support children and veterans’ charities.
Sincerely
Loren Dorshow
Executive Director-CDF
Thank You From Operation Gratitude
February 10, 2020
To the Board of Directors of the Car Donation Foundation:
I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere congratulations to everyone at Car Donation Foundation and National Fundraising Management on achieving the remarkable milestone of $80 Million to charitable organizations.
The Car Donation Foundation’s tremendous generosity has enabled Operation Gratitude Wounded Hero and Caregiver Program to grow and thrive for the past two years. In 2019 alone, we delivered over 8,000 of our signature Care Packages to Wounded Heroes and their Caregivers to life their spirits and remind them that they are seen and supported by grateful Americans everywhere. Throughout the year, 169 community volunteers joined Operation Gratitude for in-person delivery of these Care Packages, significantly contributing to our mission of forging strong bonds between grateful Americans and their military and Veteran heroes.
To demonstrate the profound impact the Car Donation Foundation and its fundraiser, National Fundraising Management (led by Randy Heiligman and Bill Bigley), has made on Wounded Heroes and their Caregiver across the country, I would like to share two emails that we recently received from the recipients of your kindness:
“Hi, I relieved the lovely care package today from Operation Gratitude and wanted to express my heartfelt thank to you and all the sponsors who helped to fill the box with wonderful surprises. The generosity means so much to us and it certainly lifted our spirits.”
“These boxes always seem to bring so much happiness when someone needs it the most – sometimes you just send these out and have no idea how much it means to the people receiving them. Please know these boxes mean the world to the person and make more of a difference then you know. A horrible few weeks and then there is a box and a smile crosses the face of someone who has not smiled in such a long time.”
These positive outcomes were made possible by the Car Donation Foundation, and they are just two examples of the thousands of lives that have been touched as a result of you achieving this incredible milestone. Your tireless work on behalf of Veterans and their families demonstrates a deep commitment to those who have selflessly served and sacrificed for our nation. Operation Gratitude is proud to call Car donation Foundation a trusted partner.
With Gratitude and Semper Fidelis,
Kevin M. Schmiegel
Chief Executive Officer
Lieutenant Colonel, USMC (Ret.)
Randy Heiligman’s Life Today
Randy married the love of his life, his wife Bobbi in 1982. The couple recently celebrated being married for more than 34 years. They have three grown children Frank, Jamie, and Aliza. Randy is a huge animal lover. He’s the owner of three beautiful rescue dogs Timber (a shepherd mix), Boris (a schnauzer mix), and Haylee (an English cream retriever).
As for hobbies Randy is very much in to photography. He’s specifically drawn to pet and wildlife photography. He’s an avid golfer, and you’ll find him on the golf course year round.
He also has an amazing collection of vintage toy cars. He loves browsing auction sites like eBay for diamond in the rough. He looks for the kind of toys that bring him back to the joys of being a young boy.
Business has always been Randy’s passion. He’s always thinking of ways to grow his companies and innovate. He keeps busy running two of his businesses. They are Metro Metals Corporation and National Fundraising Management. This doesn’t stop him though from always brainstorming new and innovative companies. He loves being able to spot a problem in a current industry or business and figuring out ways he can improve on them.