Latest news with #NationalVolunteerMonth
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Post Consumer Brands Employee-Driven "Ingredients for Good" Initiative Provides Over 91,000 Meals for People and Pets Experiencing Food Insecurity Across the United States and Canada
LAKEVILLE, Minn., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate National Volunteer Month, Post Consumer Brands employees from 18 U.S. and Canadian locations united for the company's fourth-annual volunteer initiative, Ingredients for Good, contributing more than 67,000 meals and snack packs and 24,000 pet food packs to local families facing food insecurity. 'Our 'Ingredients for Good' volunteer initiative reflects our purpose to make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all, and we are pleased to continue this tradition for our fourth year,' said Nicolas Catoggio, president and chief executive officer of Post Consumer Brands. 'I'm incredibly proud of our teams' continued dedication to giving back to our local communities, not just during this month of service but year-round.' In the current economic environment, food insecurity remains a major issue in the U.S. and Canada, especially for communities of color, children and seniors, who are affected at a much higher rate. According to Feeding America, it is estimated that more than 45 million people in the U.S. and Canada experience food insecurity, with PetSmart Charities estimating that more than 30 million pets in U.S. households face hunger daily. Throughout April's National Volunteer Month, more than 1,200 Post Consumer Brands employees volunteered more than 2,000 hours to local service projects, providing support to underserved populations facing food insecurities in their communities. Hands-on projects benefited 39 local nonprofit organizations and included packing meals for families in need, serving and preparing meals for community members facing food insecurity, and more. Projects at 12 Post locations focused on supplying underserved populations with culturally relevant and familiar ingredients in collaboration with the Greater Twin Cities United Way 'Flavors of Our Community' initiative, with sites assembling pantry packs and pet packs to be distributed to local nonprofits. In addition to the local volunteer efforts, Post Consumer Brands also contributed more than $300,000 to local communities to support food access for the whole family. The 18 locations taking part in this year's Ingredients for Good initiative were Asheboro, North Carolina; Battle Creek, Michigan; Bentonville, Arkansas; Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cobourg, Ontario; Dallas, Texas; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Lakeville, Minnesota; Lawrence, Kansas; Meadville, Pennsylvania; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Northfield, Minnesota; Salt Lake City, Utah; Sparks, Nevada; Toronto, Ontario; Tremonton, Utah; and Visalia, California. Many remote employees from across North America also sought out opportunities to volunteer their time during the month of April to support local nonprofits in the communities where they live and work. About Post Consumer Brands' 'Ingredients for Good' Volunteer Initiative As a company dedicated to feeding families, Post Consumer Brands believes it's our responsibility to help those facing food insecurity. We also strongly believe in creating a culture where volunteering and giving back is core to what we do. Our 'Ingredients for Good' volunteer initiative is an opportunity for Post Consumer Brands' team members to come together and do even more to help families in need put food on their tables and feed their pets. In total, Post Consumer Brands' employees put in 5,200 volunteer hours and donated or packed more than 272,000 meals and pet packs across all of the company's locations. About Post Consumer Brands Headquartered in Lakeville, Minn., Post Consumer Brands, a business unit of Post Holdings, Inc., is dedicated to providing people and their pets with delicious food choices for every taste and budget. The company's portfolio includes beloved brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats™, PEBBLES™, Grape-Nuts™ and Malt-O-Meal™ cereal and Peter Pan™ peanut butter, as well as Nutrish™, Kibbles 'n Bits™ and 9Lives™ dog and cat food. As a company committed to high standards of quality and to our values, we are driven by one idea: To make lives better by making delicious food accessible for all. For more information about our brands, visit and follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news. Media Contact Taylor Campbell 215-790-4374 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Post Consumer Brands
Epoch Times
08-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Leadership, Giving, and Growth Shine Across Orange County in April
Commentary April was full of inspiring events, meaningful connections, and powerful community efforts across Orange County. From welcoming distinguished leaders like Col. Mark Bieger at our Leadership Speaker Series, to planting trees along Wawayanda Creek, honoring our volunteers, celebrating innovation and manufacturing excellence, as well as supporting wonderful causes like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, it's been a true testament to the spirit and strength of our country. I'm proud to highlight just a few of these special moments, and I'm grateful to everyone who continues to step up, give back, and make our community an even better place to live, work, and explore. As April was National Volunteer Month, I'm proud to recognize the incredible volunteers of the Orange County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), everyday heroes who make an extraordinary difference in our community. The MRC is made up of people from all walks of life, both medical and non-medical, who respond whenever they're needed most, particularly in emergency situations and at local health events. They are truly the heart of public service. Please join me in thanking these amazing volunteers. If you're looking for a way to give back, they'd love to have you I had the opportunity to sit down with Col. Mark Bieger (Ret.), who serves as the president of the West Point Association of Graduates, at my most recent Leadership Speaker Series event. He had the whole room enthralled with incredible stories from his more than 28 years of military service, from the battlefield to the Pentagon. His lessons on leadership, duty, and resilience were powerful and truly inspiring. Related Stories 4/29/2025 4/2/2025 My thanks to everyone who came out, and an extra special thanks to Col. Bieger for sharing his amazing journey with us. If you missed it and would like to watch it, it will be available on YouTube shortly. I will provide the link as soon as it's available. On a beautiful afternoon on April 29, we planted native trees and shrubs along Wawayanda Creek through the Trees for Tribs program. This important project helps keep our water clean, reduces flooding, supports wildlife, and even helps fish by keeping the water cool. Big thanks to everyone who participated, and a special shoutout to the Orange County Land Trust for all they do to protect the land and natural beauty of our county. I also had a great time speaking at the Council of Industry Manufacturing Champions Awards Breakfast on April 25—my thanks to President Harold King for the invitation and for holding such an important event. As a proud past Manufacturing Champion, I'm always excited to see the amazing work happening here. This event highlights our workforce initiatives and the strong teamwork between industry and education. Kudos and my appreciation to all the companies who stepped up to support, and to the educators who are shaping the workforce of tomorrow. Thanks to all of you, Orange County's future is looking brighter than ever! I had a great time celebrating the ribbon cutting for the amazing new additions at Storm King Art Center. Iconic art set against the beautiful rolling hills, it really is a true gem right here in Orange County. I look forward to visiting again. I encourage you to put it on your list of county places to visit, too! Congratulations to everyone at Storm King. In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Hudson Valley Gives, I joined other local leaders and volunteers for 'Pouring Drinks for a Cause' to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It was a night full of fun, community spirit, and generosity. It again showed how Orange County always comes together to support those in need. Thank you to everyone who came out and donated! Congratulations to Damian Brady and the incredible team at the Orange County Office of Assigned Counsel on receiving the prestigious Robert N. Isseks Liberty Bell Award on Law Day. This award, presented by the Women's Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties, recognizes their outstanding commitment to justice, fairness, and protecting the rights of all citizens. We are so proud of this team and grateful for their tireless service to our community. Finally, if you are a student looking for work this summer, consider a summer internship opportunity with Orange County Government! Applicants must be at least 15 years of age and have completed their sophomore year of high school. Information about the program and an application can be found here: With parks, trails, and ballfields all bursting with activity, I may just see you around the county!
Associated Press
02-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Maximus Employee Volunteers Help Feed the Cleveland, Ohio Community
During National Volunteer Month, our Maximus Ohio Work Experience Program team fed Cleveland and Cuyahoga County community members through two employee-driven initiatives. First up was a grab-and-go lunch distribution. Our team made sandwiches and assembled bag lunches and then shared them with visitors to the Cuyahoga County Job and Family Services office. Within an hour, all 100 lunches were shared! Career Mentor Supervisor Darryl Hill shared, 'It was a special sight to experience the gratitude expressed by those who received a lunch and to see my teammates in service to our community. And guess what? We're not done!' The Maximus team's next stop was the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, a Maximus Foundation grantee that serves more than 424,000 people annually. The area's need for nutritious food remains high, and our employees were ready to volunteer. At the Maximus Ohio Work Experience Program, we proudly partner with Cuyahoga Job and Family Services to provide employment and training services that help community members reach new heights through long-term employment. Our team is known for its dedication to helping people on their paths to self-sufficiency and giving back to the community. This time last year, they gathered at the Cleveland Kids Book Bank to sort 300 books for libraries and childcare centers that serve local children in need. Since 1995, Maximus has remained committed to improving the lives of Ohioans who engage with federal, state, and local government programs. To learn more about how Maximus supports the communities where we work, visit Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from MAXIMUS
Forbes
27-04-2025
- General
- Forbes
Working for Women Turns Volunteering Into Leadership Development
Volunteering creates a ripple effect of impact—strengthening communities, building connections and ... More inspiring leadership through service. April is National Volunteer Month. It's a time dedicated to honoring the power of service and the profound impact that giving back has on communities, women and individuals alike. Whether it's mentoring someone to take the next step in their career or helping an organization expand its reach, every act of service fuels a ripple effect of positive change. Especially today, when challenges are complex and resources are stretched thin, volunteering reminds us that real leadership starts with showing up, sharing our skills and lifting others as we climb. When Beth Bengtson launched Working for Women, she wasn't just starting another nonprofit but reimagining an organization's role in uplifting marginalized communities. W4W connects women already in the workforce—many of whom struggle to cover basic expenses—with better job opportunities, mentorship and skills training. However, what sets W4W apart is a leadership philosophy that sees social good and business success not as competing goals but as two sides of the same coin. 'Before W4W, I lived in the for-profit world and always believed business could be a force for social good,' Bengtson explains. 'I saw firsthand how important community engagement was to employees and how much businesses could accomplish when they brought their values into their operations.' This belief became the foundation for W4W's pioneering 'skillunteering' model, in which corporate employees—from companies like Paramount—volunteer their expertise to help grassroots nonprofits and the women they serve. Through skillunteering, W4W isn't just meeting immediate needs; they're building a leadership pipeline, strengthening businesses and reshaping communities. Beth Bengtson, founder and CEO of Working for Women Bengtson's career included a role as VP of positive impact—a title that perfectly encapsulates her lifelong commitment to weaving purpose into profit. She saw that while traditional volunteering (like packing bags at a soup kitchen) made people feel good, it rarely didn't tap into the deeper business needs nonprofits faced. 'We don't often think of nonprofits as businesses, but they have the same strategic challenges,' she shares. 'They need marketing plans, revenue models, strategic roadmaps—all the things companies have.' By encouraging businesses to treat their volunteer work as a strategic partnership, W4W makes corporate social responsibility a powerful leadership move, not just a philanthropic checkbox. It's a vision that amplifies business impact far beyond a single event. Bengtson says one of the most powerful outcomes of skillunteering is how it naturally cultivates leadership skills among corporate volunteers. 'Skillunteering creates deeper connections between employees and the companies they work for,' the founder explains. 'It enhances their skills, gives them real leadership and reach opportunities, and often puts them on the promotion track.' Employees engage in projects that stretch their capabilities, whether leading workshops on negotiation skills, developing new marketing strategies or crafting business plans for nonprofit partners. Bengtson notes, 'During Covid, I worried corporate giving would dry up. But what we saw instead was a realization: experiential learning through social good wasn't just altruistic; it was one of the most powerful development tools companies had.' Leadership isn't just built in boardrooms. It's built when employees step outside their comfort zones to solve real-world problems and find their voice. Another leadership lesson W4W emphasizes is a strategic focus. Every project starts by asking nonprofits what they truly need to execute their strategic goals, which can be anything from marketing support to program development to operational improvements. 'We sit down with executive directors and ask, 'What's on your roadmap? What could you do if you had the right team behind you?'' she states. 'Our [corporate] volunteers then become an extension of their team bringing professional skills nonprofits otherwise couldn't afford.' W4W moves beyond charity and into capacity-building by rooting projects in tangible needs. It's a leadership model that values long-term impact over feel-good moments, aligning corporate resources with nonprofit visions for maximum change. Working for Women Negotiation Workshop led by volunteers from ZS and program participants from New ... More Women New Yorkers. For Kimaya Padgaonkar, Strategy Insights and Planning Manager at ZS, volunteering with W4W has been transformational professionally and personally. 'I was visiting another ZS office where they were having a W4W workshop,' Padgaonkar explains. 'It was so moving that I went back to Philly and asked them to bring it there.' Even after relocating to London after her experience, Padgaonkar stayed connected to W4W, explaining, 'I love that my professional skills can be used to give back in a more impactful, sustainable way.' Through seven years of skillunteering, she has strengthened key leadership skills, from presenting to executive directors to navigating unstructured business problems. 'At that point in my career, I didn't have opportunities to present to senior leaders. Skillunteering gave me the space to grow,' she says. The experience also expanded her network and deepened her sense of purpose at work. These projects helped her meet colleagues she wouldn't have otherwise. 'Having my company support a program like this has definitely been a factor in my retention at ZS,' she emphasizes. 'For the past 1.5 years, I've been leading the partnership with W4W from the ZS side. It's cool to see people who are juniors now, where I was when I started volunteering with W4W, moving up and benefitting from the program.' Through W4W, Bengtson shows that leadership today isn't just about profit margins or titles. It's about making tangible investments in people, purpose and community. Combining skill, strategy and heart, her company's model creates a ripple effect: building stronger nonprofits, leaders and businesses simultaneously. As Beth puts it, 'Go out and do social good—and actually improve your bottom line. It's a hidden secret, but it's the future of leadership.'
American Press
24-04-2025
- General
- American Press
Being a 'Big' means becoming a pillar in a child's life
Travis Thomas accepts the 'Big Brother of the Year' award with his Little, Elijah. The pair are pictured with Big Brothers Big Sisters Southwest Louisiana Chief Executive Officer Jillian Cormier. (Special to the American Press) April is National Volunteer Month, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana is celebrating by highlighting the Bigs who keep their mission alive. BBBS SWLA facilitates matches between Bigs (volunteers) and Littles, and provides programming for at-risk youth in Allen, Beauregard , Calcasieu, Cameron, Jeff Davis and Vernon Parishes, serving over 400 youth across 20 schools. Over 2,500 BBBS-SWLA volunteer hours have been recorded this year. Throughout the month, BBBS is highlighting the stories of Bigs in the region. Julia Tassin, marketing and development manager, BBBS, said that at the heart of everything at BBBS is the belief that each child has 'incredible potential.' BBBS puts supporters in the corner of kids who are in need. The supportive one-on-one relationships between Bigs and Littles 'ignite' the potential in children and help them build confidence, she said. Travis Thomas, who was honored as 'Big of the Year' in 2023, is one of the 120 Bigs in Southwest Louisiana. He began volunteering two years ago. He was inspired to become a Big while he was volunteering at BBBS's Summer Academy – a youth summer mentoring program. 'I created a bond with one of the kids there after asking if he wanted to play Uno. We built a relationship from there,' he recalled. When becoming a Big, his intention was to 'give, not gain' by committing to bring is time, energy and talents to the mentorship program. For Thomas, the act of sacrifice for the greater good is the meaning of volunteerism. The moments that have stood out to him range from helping his Little gain independence by having him order his own food, to seeing his little learn to manage his anger. In return, Thomas has learned better time management and to become more intentional with actions The Bigs are the 'heartbeat' of BBBS, and are trained not to be perfect, but to be present, Tassin said.. 'They show up consistently, build trust, and form meaningful connections with the Littles,' she explained. 'Whether it's grabbing a snow cone on a sunny day, helping with homework or just being a listening ear, the time they invest makes a lasting impact.' There are still 84 littles who need to be paired with a Big. Tassin said volunteers don't need any special skills or a structured schedule to be a Big, they just need two spare hours a month. 'You just need to be willing to show up and be consistent. The impact you can make by simply being there for a child is huge,' she said. 'And for anyone who's even slightly considering it – this could be the start of something life-changing, for you and for a Little.' Thomas said deciding to become a Big is more than just a decision to volunteer, its a choice to become a pillar in a child's life. 'You are actively mentoring the future generation. You are building, shaping, and pouring into the next generation of doctors, lawyers and governors.' Those interested in volunteering with BBBS-SWLA can apply online at
