CINCINNATI (August 25, 2026) – Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, a leading heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical company serving southwest Ohio, is proud to announce the donation of one book vending machine and enough books for each elementary student within Hamilton City Schools. Ridgeway Elementary was the only one of the district’s seven elementary schools that didn’t have a book vending machine of its own. Looking to fill that gap and ensure all students have access to a free book each school year, Thomas & Galbraith is partnering with the school district for the first time.
Thomas & Galbraith and Hamilton City Schools celebrated the partnership and donation with a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the book vending machine at Ridgeway Elementary School yesterday. Mike Roszkowski, President of Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, Adam Hanekamp, General Manager of Thomas & Galbraith, Andrea Blevins, Hamilton City Schools Superintendent, Ryan Britton, Ridgeway Elementary Principal, students and the media gathered to mark the milestone.
“I am an avid reader, and I remember that love of reading being cultivated in my elementary years,” said Mike Roszkowski, President of Thomas & Galbraith. “Early literacy is the first step toward unlocking a child’s full potential, but access is the key, and too many kids do not have access. We are proud to contribute to students’ ability to start a home library, as elementary students within Hamilton City Schools will have the opportunity to take a book home with them each year they are in the school. As a business, serving our clients is essential, but supporting our community in meaningful ways is just as important to us.”
A study published in Reading Psychology found that elementary students in grades 3 to 5 who had greater access to books at home read more frequently during out-of-school time.
"Hamilton City Schools extends its sincere gratitude to Thomas & Galbraith for helping put quality books into the hands of our students. Their generous donation of a book vending machine and a large collection of books for every school will provide students with regular access to engaging reading materials and help foster a lifelong love of reading,” said Andrea Blevins, Hamilton City Schools Superintendent. “Community partners play an essential role in the success of our schools. Meaningful investments like this strengthen the educational experiences we provide and demonstrate what is possible when our community comes together to support every student, every staff member, every day."
Students will be able to select the book they are most interested in from a wide variety of age-appropriate choices stocked within the vending machines.
"The generosity of Thomas & Galbraith will directly impact our students at Ridgeway for many years to come by getting high-quality, high-interest books into the hands of all our students, from kindergarten through sixth grade,” said Ryan Britton, Ridgeway Elementary Principal. “This initiative directly ties into our Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, rewarding and promoting respectful, responsible, and safe choices throughout our school. Watching our kids get excited about earning books and building their own home libraries is an absolute joy, and we are so grateful for this partnership!"
Thomas & Galbraith has committed to contributing books for all seven vending machines for the 2026/2027 school year and beyond.
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About Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical is a leading heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical company serving southwest Ohio. Founded in 1977, Thomas & Galbraith Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical offers heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical maintenance, repair and replacement services for people living in the greater Cincinnati and Dayton area.
Max is an important part of our team. He is more than just a cartoon character. Max represents our commitment to quality work, craftsmanship, pride, and our passion to serve our clients and community. We celebrate this mentality through Max because these are the values that drive us to be the area’s most complete and comprehensive home service company. So, now when you see Max, you’ll know the story behind the man with the mustache!