We Love Nonprofits!
August 17th is National Nonprofit Day! In recognition of all the hard work that nonprofits do, we asked our staff to share their favorite nonprofits lifting up their respecitve communities. We are fortunate to work with many amazing nonprofits as a financial services company, so we have our eyes open to the wonders that these organizations do. Here are some that our staff volunteer for, donate to, and admire outside of our amazing clients:
Gary Sinise Foundation - I love this organization because it offers a variety of programs, services, and events for wounded Veterans. With over a million meals served to Veterans, they truly do more than their part. - Chris
Mission Myeloma Wisconsin - My grandma was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and this local nonprofit came up in some of my searches. They do an annual walk/run to raise money and awareness. They provide financial grants, support, and funding for research for this cancer with no known cure. - Sarah
Denton County Friends of the Family - This organization is an amazing resource for families impacted by sexual assault and domestic violence. They provide opportunities to support the mission like operating a thrift store which allows families to shop with vouchers for free and is open to the community with the proceeds going to their programs. Every August, they run a backpack and school supply drive and during Christmas, you can adopt a family or kids to gift an outfit, shoes, and two fun items. I am grateful to give back to my community through their initiatives and impactful work. - Melissa
Comfort Station - My favorite thing about this Chicago community-run arts space is that it hosts 150+ events a year to musicians, artists, and performers for free to the artists and audience. One of my favorite memories was an outdoor film screening of Agnes Varda's Daguerreotypes. Very unique, niche, creative programming! - Patricia
Bubolz Nature Preserve - I admire the diverse range of programs offered by this nonprofit, which actively engages with various segments of the community. From the exciting Ales on the Trails event to the valuable Homeschooling class, as well as the dedicated programming for Girl & Boy Scouts, camps, and delightful family activities like Maple Syrup Saturday, they demonstrate a genuine commitment to enriching the lives of people in our community.
Their remarkable efforts in community outreach and adeptness in utilizing social media platforms are truly commendable. Moreover, their preserve is a haven of exploration, with its numerous trails, a serene turtle pond, and an engaging natural playscape. I am impressed by the inclusion of geocaches, a ropes course, solar panels, and a thoughtfully-designed building featuring a dedicated kids play area and various meeting spaces, including the charming log cabin and gazebos.
The nonprofit's emphasis on sustainability and environmentalism aligns perfectly with causes that I personally find vital, especially in light of their growing significance in the years to come. - Megan
The Hospice Thrift Store - I love that my purchases go toward financially helping families that are hurting since all of the proceeds from sales go to the Hospice patients and their families. Supporting such a good cause when I bought my work desk (which just happened to be the smaller size I needed) gave me so much satisfaction and joy. - Amanda
St. Vincent de Paul Society - This organization has been a staple that provides basic needs support within communities worldwide for nearly two hundred years. The passion and servant leadership of the Vincentians continually inspire me to be a leader that highly prioritizes giving back to our team and clients. - Jeremy
Dog is My Co-Pilot - This incredible organization transports animals from overcrowded shelters across the country to a variety of adoption centers, where animal lovers can come and find new members of their family. Peter Rork gives these furry friends a second chance at life by donating his flying hours, planes and heart to this incredible mission. I have enjoyed being a part of this mission by collecting animal cages and carriers from all over the city to take to DCP’s team members, to fly these fur babies to their new families. They recently were blessed with another aircraft to double their efforts, rescuing over 1000 pets per month! This May celebrated their 26,000th passenger flown. - Joss
Young Life - I like that Young Life works with youth from all walks of life and a range of mental/physical abilities. But the best thing is YL’s relational model. Staff go to where youth are and earn the right to be heard through meaningful relationship building. It ain’t old-fashioned fire and brimstone preaching on a soapbox! - Robin
Boys Ranch Founded by Cal Farley - One of the things I admire most about this organization is its commitment to helping children between the ages of 5 and 18 who are at risk. They strive to guide these children towards a better life by focusing on their overall development. I have always been a firm believer in second chances, and it brings me joy to read stories about the positive changes this organization is able to make in these children's lives. It is crucial to feel supported, and I find it heartwarming that these kids have a community that has helped shape them not only until they turn 18 but also afterward, by providing grants to help them continue to flourish. - Bindy
Nonprofits - thank you for all that you do!
What organizations do you support, volunteer for, or celebrate?