Giving back: VantagePoint associates worked to improve our community in 2017

As part of its commitment to maintaining a positive work environment, an element of our guiding principles, VantagePoint created a community involvement task force several years ago in order to foster and support philanthropic efforts near and dear to our associates’ hearts.

This employee-run committee assesses, recommends and oversees VantagePoint’s community involvement activities. Since the establishment of the committee, VantagePoint has maintained ongoing involvement in the community through in-kind donations, volunteering and non-profit grants. On this Giving Tuesday, we’d like to celebrate VantagePoint’s employee-driven community efforts throughout 2017.

Helping Hands Grants

The VantagePoint Helping Hands grants program allows associates to submit donation requests on behalf of a cause or organization in which they have some personal interest. Grants of $150 are awarded monthly, and this year were given to the following organizations:

January – Ronald McDonald House
Ronald McDonald House Charities provides support to families and children during times of need while children go through extensive medical treatment.

February & November – MUSC Children’s Hospital
MUSC Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive care for children from before birth to 18 years of age. This donation was made in memory of an employee’s grandson.

March – American Heart Association Upstate Heart Walk
The American Heart Association is a champion for the millions of Americans affected by heart disease and stroke. Our sponsorship of an employee participating in the walk helped fund research, education and healthcare.

April – Switch
Switch is a nonprofit dedicated to end human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Upstate of South Carolina through programs that promote awareness, prevention, demand, intervention and restoration.

May – Lucky Pup Rescue
Lucky Pup Rescue rescues dogs from high kill shelters, abuse/neglect situations, owner surrenders and strays in Greenville and places them with foster families.

June – Soteria Annual 5K
Soteria is an outreach program to help men and women transitioning back into society after spending time in prison. Our sponsorship of an employee participating in the 5K helped Soteria purchase a transitional housing facility in Travelers Rest.

July – Bethel Elementary School One School, One Book Program
Because more than a third of students at Bethel Elementary come from low-income households, the One School, One Book program provides these children with the books necessary for the reading initiative.

August – Love Does
Love Does provides support and education to children in conflict zones around the world.

September – United Ministries Transformation Walk
United Ministries is a Greenville-based non-profit that addresses the roots of poverty, financial crisis and homelessness. Our sponsorship of an employee participating in the Transformation Walk generated awareness about homelessness here in Greenville.

October – Greenville County Youth Orchestras
Greenville County Youth Orchestras support and further the study of music among Greenville County students.

December – Operation Christmas Child
Each year the December Helping Hands donation covers the cost of shipping for packed shoeboxes sent to needy children at Christmas.

In-kind Donations

Upstate Backpack Blessings

Over 34,000 students in Greenville County Public Schools rely on free or reduced breakfasts and lunches while in school Monday through Friday. Students served by Upstate Backpack Blessings count on weekend bags to keep them nourished over the weekend when they don’t have access to school meals. VantagePoint employees collected Upstate Backpack Blessings food donations for four weeks this year — two weeks in March and two in September — and delivered two vehicle trunks full of food to the organization.

Operation Christmas Child

Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind, using gift-filled shoeboxes to provide toys and everyday items to children in need. This November, VantagePoint employees donated items and then spent several hours organizing and packing 43 shoeboxes to send to children around the world.

Volunteering

Meals on Wheels

VantagePoint employees volunteer twice per month to distribute meals for Meals on Wheels (MOW) Greenville. Employees pair up to cover a specific MOW route and deliver hot meals to seniors in the local community.

Hands on Greenville Day

Each spring United Way Hands of Greenville hosts Hands on Greenville (HOG) Day — a communitywide service day in which hundreds of volunteers team up to tackle major projects at various locations. This year, 23 VantagePoint employees and family members worked for four hours to beautify the courtyard at Fountain Inn Elementary School — cleaning garbage, pulling weeds, hauling mulch and trimming trees and bushes.

Follow us on social media to see where our community involvement takes us in 2018.