According to the Economic Policy Institute, 55 million Americans worked in essential industries identified by state governments during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. These imperative functions supported every corner of our society, including education, public safety, healthcare, and food and agriculture. While public health and economic outlooks were uncertain, people serving in these roles continued to show up for their communities. Their commitment to others inspired Integrated Project Management Company (IPM) to select “Supporting Everyday Heroes” as the theme for the second-quarter Integrated Project Mercy activities. Volunteers from each office donated their time and effort, and IPM provided financial contributions.
Dan Riordan, Project Management Consultant in IPM’s St. Louis office and IPM’s Q2 Project Mercy lead, says he knew the group he wanted to support immediately after volunteering to lead. “At that point, we were two-plus years into a global pandemic and people were starting to forget that there was a large piece of the population that never got a break or the opportunity to work from home safely. I wanted to give IPMers the chance to give back to the people who have sacrificed so much for our well-being.”
St. Louis
IPM volunteers from the St. Louis office supported the local nonprofit Responder Rescue by participating in their annual kickball tournament. Responder Rescue provides resources—including emotional and financial support and material items—to any first responders who have been impacted by injury, illness, or trauma.
Boston
A team from the Boston office prepared and served an appreciation summer barbecue for 45 firefighters, emergency dispatchers, and police officers in the Brookline, MA, area. The event allowed the first responders to relax and socialize outside of their busy and often stressful work calls.
Chicago
IPMers in Chicago volunteered at an event honoring Illinois State Police for their hard work and dedication. They also hosted an ice cream social at IPM’s Burr Ridge headquarters, where they honored two fire departments that support the Burr Ridge area. Along with ice cream, the event provided family-friendly games and an opportunity for kids to sit inside fire trucks and meet local firefighters. Both fire departments also received donations to purchase needed supplies.
Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, volunteers sponsored a picnic for the community held at Encino, CA’s Fire Station 83. The team cooked more than 200 hot dogs, packaged 120 containers of potato salad, and served more than 200 people. The picnic allowed firefighters to spend time mingling with the local community and raising money to help support their station.
Minneapolis
A team from Minneapolis recognized 60 Dakota County Correction Deputies for the dedication and hard work they displayed during challenging resource constraints. The team stuffed 60 gift bags with snacks and gift cards to present the deputies. The IPM team also hosted and catered a dinner for the Kimbell, South Haven, and Watkins Fire Departments. After the meal, the three departments conducted trainings for continuing education.
New Jersey
In New Jersey, volunteers supported seven local teachers through DonorsChoose. DonorsChoose is a national nonprofit organization that provides a platform for public school teachers to request needed supplies for students and their curriculum.
San Francisco
Volunteers in San Francisco partnered with Coins for Cops founder Rachel Lassman to acknowledge police officers in their community. Coins for Cops is an organization that is committed to showing appreciation for law enforcement’s service to communities nationwide. Donations funded handwritten thank-you letters and specially designed challenge coins that were distributed to officers. The San Francisco team adopted three sheriff’s offices from San Mateo, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park. They wrote nearly 400 personal letters that the organization delivered along with challenge coins as a reminder of their support of first responders.
IPM employees lead and participate in quarterly philanthropy efforts through our Integrated Project Mercy program. Visit our careers page to learn more about joining the IPM family.
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