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Nine charitable organizations — each nominated by an ECS employee — have received ECS Engage grants this fall. These charitable grants will support diabetes and leukemia research, tutoring for students in need, the U.S. Army Aviation Museum, and much more.
Each quarter, ECS employees nominate charities through ECS Engage, a company-wide philanthropic program that provides grants for ECSers’ favorite charitable organizations.
Read about the causes our Q3 2024 ECS Engage grants are supporting and the ECS employees who made it happen.
- Breakthrough T1D
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS)
- Vecinos Unidos
- Best Buddies
- Special Operations Genesis Foundation
- Army Aviation Museum Foundation (AAMF)
- Boy Scouts of America Troop 648
- Team Mathias
- Twin Valley Senior Center
NOMINATED BY:
Lindsey Reisinger
Vice President of Human Resources
Founded in 1970 by families whose loved ones had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the nonprofit 501(c)3 organization Breakthrough T1D is the leading global research and advocacy organization for T1D. Breakthrough T1D is leading the way to more effective solutions by connecting the brightest minds to advance treatments, influence policy, and improve access to care.
“In February of 2022, my family received the devastating news that our then seven-year-old son was being rushed to the hospital with suspected type 1 diabetes. That day, our lives changed forever. Thanks to the resources of this organization, we have successfully made it over two years into this horrible autoimmune disease.”
NOMINATED BY:
Rachel Carlson
Senior Proposal Manager
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is at the forefront of the fight to cure cancer. The largest blood cancer nonprofit funder of cutting-edge research, LLS has invested nearly $1.7 billion in research, and it leads in advancing breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics, and personalized medicine. This research saves lives.
“This year will be my 11th year involved with the LLS Light the Night event. Over the years, my family and I have raised over $180,000 to support LLS. Our family has been personally affected by blood cancer, and we are forever grateful for the power of research to develop treatments and cures for these diseases.”
NOMINATED BY:
Morris Mendoza
Junior Business Analyst, Justice and Homeland Solutions
Based in Herndon, Virginia, Vecinos Unidos (Neighbors United) is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides free homework assistance and enrichment to students in need. Founded in 1997 as an organization dedicated to providing children with safe and engaging afterschool activities, Vecinos Unidos is committed to helping students overcome academic achievement gaps.
“I have been a volunteer at this tutoring center for eight years, and a board member for seven. I am consistently amazed at our volunteers’ ability to impact our students in regards to reading, writing, and math. We strive towards academic excellence, and we are passionately guiding our students towards developing a love for learning in all areas of their lives.”
NOMINATED BY:
April Fletcher
Corporate Recruiter
Founded in 1989, Best Buddies in Tennessee offers one-to-one friendship, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support programs for individuals with and without disabilities. Best Buddies has grown from one original chapter to nearly 3,000 chapters worldwide, positively impacting the lives of over 1.3 million people across the 50 states and in 45 countries.
“I started volunteering with Best Buddies in Tennessee in 2015. I was paired with a buddy who was impacted by intellectual and developmental disabilities. This organization helps bring friendship and life experiences to a population that is often isolated or excluded from activities. I am no longer paired with one buddy and instead spend time with a wonderful ever-changing group of buddies.”
NOMINATED BY:
Chad Hamner
Combatant Command Integration Lead, Mission Solutions
The Special Operations Genesis Foundation is the number one philanthropic supporter of U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) personnel and their families. It provides financial support for medical needs, specialized mental health and substance abuse support, retirement assistance, scholarships, and much more.
“I am the foundation’s Special Forces relations director and one of three voting board members. I help to provide rapid response, crisis management, and proactive programs for Green Berets, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations soldiers. I also assist the soldiers with mental health and substance abuse requirements, scholarship programs, financial support, transition assistance, and more.”
NOMINATED BY:
Ronald Ferrell
Military Analyst and Project Coordinator
The Army Aviation Museum Foundation (AAMF) works to foster and perpetuate the U.S. Army Aviation Museum as a medium of informing and educating the public on the important role of Army aviation and inspiring flight students to become career armed service members. While helping to enhance the museum’s artifacts and collections, AAMF also strives to be an educational institute for visitors of all ages, including school groups, civic leadership organizations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and ROTC cadets.
“I retired as a career Army aviator…. All the aircraft I have flown are now in the museum … we manage a contract to provide flight simulators to support 40% of Army flight training in support of graduating new Army aviators. It also supports graduate-level training for soldiers to be instructor pilots and maintenance officers. The collective training systems support several levels of professional military education.”
NOMINATED BY:
Kevin Stainback
Master Specialist, Enterprise Solutions
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) provides a youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The BSA is composed of more than one million youth members and more than 628,000 volunteers throughout the United States and its territories.
“I’ve been in scouting since 1984. I earned my Eagle Scout in 1993 and have been involved as a counselor and adult leader for many years. I was the cubmaster for Pack 648 in Elkin, NC for almost a decade and have been the scoutmaster for Troop 648 since 2020.”
NOMINATED BY:
Brad Moore
Director of Business Operations, Enterprise Solutions
Team Mathias helps to support families and research efforts while raising awareness about all childhood cancers. For many childhood cancers, research is underfunded, and many treatments are outdated. Team Mathias aims to raise awareness to help generate funding and, ultimately, more research and better treatment.
“I have been involved with Team Mathias for over five years. I personally know Roya Giordano who started the foundation when her son lost his battle with cancer in 2014. Each year they take care of families going through similar challenges, donating care packages and even building a hospital room at Innova Hospital.”
NOMINATED BY:
Stephanie Grant
Project Manager, Enterprise Solutions
Serving citizens in the central Vermont communities of Cabot, Calais, East Montpelier, Marshfield, Plainfield, and Woodbury, the Twin Valley Senior Center (TVSC) helps to facilitate the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of independent citizens. The center provides access to community resources, services, and activities that help maintain independence and wellness.
“I have been volunteering at TVSC every week for just over a year. TVSC enables older adults to improve their mental wellness by playing games, being in a book club, exercising, or just chatting with others over coffee. TVSC offers free tax preparations, free health clinics, and a Meals on Wheels program that delivers about 350 meals a week to rural Vermonters. With a population density of 30-50 people per square mile, the TVSC is a staple for this rural community.”
