Giving Back
Being an active part of our community is one of our Guiding Principles! Here's just some of the fun we've had volunteering in our local community and beyond.
Blood Drive for Michigan Blood
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan Bowl For Kids' Sake
2010 National Cherry Festival
United Way Day of Caring
Blood Drive for Michigan Blood
VIE Water Contest
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan Bowl For Kids' Sake
Blood Drive for Michigan Blood
2010 National Cherry Festival
Blood Drive for Michigan Blood
United Way Day of Caring
Greater Lansing Food Bank
Blood Drives
Partnered with Michigan Blood
- April 15, 2011: 10 pints of blood donated
- September 15, 2011: 11 pints of blood donated
- March 19, 2010: 23 pints of blood donated
- September 9, 2010: 14 pints of blood donated
- Michigan Blood promises blood will always be there when it's needed, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They've made and kept that promise since 1955. Plus, once they've provided for Michigan's hospitals, they regularly send blood wherever needed in the United States, including to the military. VIKTOR partnered with Michigan Blood twice in 2010 to host successful (and fun!) blood drives. Visit www.miblood.org for more information on sponsoring a blood drive.
Bowl for Kids' Sake
Sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan
- May 11, 2011: Goal of $600, raised $1085
- May 12, 2010: Raised $530
- Big Brothers Big Sisters helps children in need reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships with volunteers. The bowling pledges raised were used to help recruit new volunteer mentors, cover background checks and insurance, and support case managers, so that they can provide ongoing professional support and supervision for each match. Please visit www.bigsupnorth.com for more information and/or to get involved today. Little moments. Big magic.
Greater Lansing Food Bank
At Showcase of Ideas
- November 2, 2011: Collected 309 pounds of food
- November 3, 2010: Collected 432 pounds of food
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The Greater Lansing Food Bank is a non-profit organization that provides emergency food to individuals and families in need in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. Food is distributed through an extensive network of food pantries and community kitchens located throughout the greater Lansing area. The Food Movers program rescues perishable food from restaurants, commercial kitchens, bakeries, and grocery stores and delivers to the network of pantries and agencies and subsidized housing complexes. VIKTOR asked all Showcase exhibitors and attendees to bring an item to donate. Please visit http://www.greaterlansingfoodbank.org/ for more information and/or to get involved today. Take a stand against hunger.
National Cherry Festival
- July 7, 2011: Volunteered 30+ hours
- July 9 & 10, 2010: Volunteered 57 hours of service
- The National Cherry Festival, held annually in our hometown of Traverse City, Michigan, aims to celebrate cherries, tourism, and community involvement by offering 150 events and activities for over 500,000 attendees over eight days. The Festival relies on the dedicated service of approximately 4,500 volunteers. VIKTOR volunteered at the Beer Tent and Wine Pavilion, serving and educating attendees on the beverages offered and working the ticket counter / cash register. Please visit www.cherryfestival.org for more information and/or to get involved today. Don't miss out on this "awesomely awesome and fun" time!
Operation: Kid Equip
At Michigan Meetings Expo
- May 25, 2010
- Provided 24 sets of school supplies
- Operation: Kid Equip's long term vision is a community where every child's basic needs are met. To accomplish this in the short term, they provide free school supplies, books, hygiene, and food items for children who are at risk. VIKTOR collected donations inner-office and purchased 24 sets of school supplies. In addition, we asked attendees and exhibitors at the Michigan Meetings Expo to donate school supplies at the Expo. Please visit www.operationkidequip.org for more information and/or to get involved today. Kids + education = change.
Paper Angels Campaign
Sponsored by Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan
- December 2010 and 2011
- Provided all items on adopted family's holiday wish list
- Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan is a private nonprofit organization providing human and social service programs to a 13-county region. Their mission is to strengthen and nurture children and families by ensuring their safety and well-being while promoting health and growth through education, support, and advocacy. Through their Paper Angels Campaign, Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan works to provide foster care children a Merry Christmas. VIKTOR adopted a family, and was able to provide everything on their wish list! Please visit http://www.cfsnwmi.org/ for more information and/or to get involved today. Smiling faces are the best gratitude. Share your kindness.
United Way Day of Caring
Partnered with The Father Fred Foundation (2011) and Bay Area Recycling for Charities (2010)
- September 13, 2011: Organized items for the annual Father Fred Garage Sale.
The Father Fred Foundation's mission is to LISTEN to the community needs, CARE for the distressed, the poor, the hungry and the suffering, and SHARE its resources in a loving and respectful manner. They help families in crisis by providing food, clothing, household goods and cash assistance. - September 14, 2010: Assembled and painted 18 recycling bins for Bay Area Recycling for Charities (BARC). Visit www.fatherfred.org/ for more information and/or to get involved today.
BARC is a non-profit organization focused on converting recyclables into revenues, not only to support itself and its expansion, but to achieve the ultimate goal of giving maximum donations to local charities. VIKTOR partnered with BARC to assemble and paint recycling bins, to be placed around the Traverse City area. Please visit www.mybarc.org for more information and/or to get involved today. Waste not. Give a lot.
VIE Water
- Winter - Summer, 2010
- Raised $718.30
- VIE Water is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing clean drinking water to people in Haiti and in other developing countries. VIKTOR devised an inner-office contest, collecting loose change for VIE. Our contributions helped support a VIE Water Project that provided 7000 people with clean, safe drinking water. Please visit www.viewater.org for more information and/or to get involved today. Give water. Give life.
Additional organizations supported
- Cherryland Humane Society (2011)
- Child and Family Services of Northwest Michigan (2010)
- Ele's Place (2011)
- Father Fred Foundation (2011)
- Food Gatherers of Washtenaw County (2010)
- Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan (2010 & 2011)
- Goodwill Inn Homeless Shelter (2011)
- Grand Traverse Bay YMCA (2010 & 2011)
- Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (2010)
- Interfaith Hospitality Network at Alpha House (2010)
- Munson Hospice House (2011)
- TART Trails Inc. (2010 & 2011)
- Traverse Health Clinic (2010 & 2011)
- Women's Resource Center (2010)
