Each quarter, one of Integrated Project Management Company’s (IPM) seven offices selects a charity or cause for the company’s Project Mercy philanthropic efforts. In the most recent quarter, the teenage son of an IPM employee made the request.
As a high school freshman, he wanted to volunteer for a nonprofit related to healthcare. He found Beyond Blindness, which was close to his home and friendly when he contacted them. He formed a school club, which has gone to the center every Friday for over three years to help however they can.
“He used to listen to me talk about Project Mercy and said, ‘How about you do Beyond Blindness?’” says Vinesh Naik, a Los Angeles-based project management consultant who co-led the program with Senior Consultant Eric Orywal. “It was a good idea. It’s a good cause.” The organization provides early intervention, education, and enrichment for children with visual impairments and other disabilities. So, the quarterly theme was supporting blind and visually impaired people.
Goody Bags and Gifts
The Los Angeles IPM team gathered at Beyond Blindness to assemble goody bags for their Easter egg hunt. They filled 175 bags with candy, games, and toys and used a Braille typewriter to write messages for the children. The volunteers also created birthday cards with bright colors and 3D and tactile elements for kids and young adults. IPMers in the Chicago office also crafted greeting cards for the organization.
A team in the San Francisco office created gift bags for puppies and their trainers. Guide Dogs for the Blind is the largest guide dog school in North America. Its goal is to empower and provide mobility for those who are blind or visually impaired. The IPM team assembled 80 bags holding care instructions, puppy food, and supplements for keeping the dogs healthy.
Supporting Fundraisers
In New Jersey, a group of IPMers supported the Visions of Spring event, a fundraiser for the Vision Loss Alliance of New Jersey. The nonprofit’s mission is to empower people with vision loss or blindness by providing support, education, and training in assistive technology and independent living skills. IPM sponsored the event and employees contributed donations and bid on silent auction items.
The St. Louis team supported the annual Shining Light Gala for the Delta Gamma Center for Children with Visual Impairments by helping to clean up afterward, sorting and packaging supplies. The center aims to help children reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.
Brightening Lives
Volunteers in Boston spent the day outside. They cleaned garden beds and laid fresh mulch across the campus of the Carroll Center for the Blind, whose services include vision rehabilitation, vocational and transition programs, assistive technology training, educational support, and recreation opportunities.
And in Minneapolis, a team of volunteers will help with setup, serving beverages, and cleanup of a fun event in the park, where participants will listen to a Minnesota Twins baseball game, take a walk, or just enjoy the day outside. The event will be hosted by Vision Loss Resources, which provides training, social and emotional support, and other resources for people with vision loss.
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.
"*" indicates required fields