Charitable Giving: A Look Back at Our 2022 Initiatives

Two Rivers Marketing
Dec 07, 2022

Two Rivers Marketing associates giving face paintings outside as part of their 2022 volunteering initiatives.

As an agency that cares deeply about its community, Two Rivers Marketing has integrated giving back into our workplace culture. Because when we support meaningful causes in our neighborhoods, we can drive real change and improve the places we live and work.

“At Two Rivers, we believe that our community gets stronger when we work together to make an impact in someone’s life,” explains Jill VanDerPol, director of agency and community initiatives. “As a company, it’s important to us to give back and give our associates ample opportunities to do the same.”

In 2022, we had the privilege to partner with a variety of nonprofit organizations throughout the Des Moines metro. Join us as we take a look back on this year’s initiatives and efforts.

Giving Back to Propel Our Community Forward

While the holiday season is a time of giving, our generous associates work together to make a difference in our community all year long. Throughout 2022, we took on pro bono and in-kind work for such organizations as Special Olympics Iowa and JDRF.

“I’ve had multiple opportunities to design materials for the JDRF Hope Gala. Each time, it has been an incredibly rewarding experience to see the event come to life,” says Emily Shendelman, associate creative director. “This cause is near and dear to my heart as we lost my mother-in-law to Type 1 Diabetes, and I am so honored to be a part of this local effort.”

Associates also support organizations and causes they care about through volunteer time off (VTO). Popular choices include Furry Friends Refuge and Habitat for Humanity.

“I am proud to work for a company that values charitable giving through monetary contributions, as well as through its associates’ time and talents,” says Anna VandeVenter, digital experience director. “Our volunteer time off program has not only enabled but encouraged and inspired me to give back to the organizations that make our community a better place to live, work, and play.”

2022 Charities of Choice

Each year, associates nominate and vote on organizations they’re passionate about. The three charities with the most votes become Charities of Choice and have agency-wide fundraising events held in their honor.

Blank Children’s Hospital: Festival of Trees & Lights

Our creative minds brainstormed several themes for the holiday tree we would later donate to the 39th Annual Festival of Trees & Lights. After a quick vote, it was determined that our evergreen would be adorned with candy canes and lollipops. Our monetary donations funded the delectable decorations, with remaining funds going directly to the fundraiser.

This annual event is the largest fundraiser for Blank Children’s Hospital and proceeds support two critical services: Child Life and the Center for Advocacy & Outreach.

Jill, Katie, and Julie decorating the Two Rivers Marketing tree for Blank Children's Hospital: Festival of Trees & Lights.

Orchard Place

The talents of our team were up for grabs with this fundraiser. Associates donated and bid on everything from logo design services and photography sessions to wedding florals and baked goods during an online silent auction benefiting Orchard Place. In the end, we raised $2,500 for the organization’s Moonlight Classic bike riding event.

Orchard Place provides mental health treatment for children and adolescents in Iowa through residential, outpatient, in-home, community-based, and care coordination programs.

Orchard Place crew members standing together with arms around each other for a team photo outside.

Young Women’s Resource Center (YWRC)

With the start of the school year right around the corner, we held a back-to-school supply drive in early August. Associates donated physical supplies or purchased items from the YWRC’s Amazon Wish List. Supplies gathered included backpacks, planners, pens and pencils, tissues, hand sanitizer, and much more.

The YWRC supports, educates, and advocates for any persons age 10–24 who have been socialized and/or identify as female. Through small groups and individual support, the YWRC provides programming for all young women, no matter what they may be going through.

Five women from the Young Women's Resource Center standing together behind boxes filled with school supplies and Two Rivers Marketing donations.

A Charitable Culture

At Two Rivers, one of our core values is to improve every day, and this value extends beyond our office. In addition to growing as professionals and people, we value helping to improve those around us — those in our community. If you want to work for a company that places a high regard on giving back to the causes its associates care about, check out the open positions on our careers page.