As stated in our agency’s core values, Climb Marketing is committed to supporting the communities that sustain us. That’s why we’re dedicating a portion of our good fortune in 2019 back to local non-profit organizations.
Through our first annual Charitable Giving Program, each team member at Climb was granted a portion of the agency’s 2019 profits to give to a 501(c)3 non-profit charity (or charities) of their choice. You can read about each of our nominations below and why we’re passionate about contributing to these great organizations and supporting their causes.
Jeremy Lopatin – Washtenaw Literacy & The Student Advocacy Center
There are a lot of charities out there that I respect and support. But when I think about the work we do at Climb Marketing – helping our B2B clients meet their goals for growth and prosperity – I’m really drawn to supporting organizations that help others achieve prosperity of their own. There are few issues more central to achieving economic prosperity than basic literacy and getting a solid education. That’s why I’ve chosen to donate to Washtenaw Literacy and The Student Advocacy Center.
Climb President Jeremy Lopatin presenting a donation to Nick Lacy of Washtenaw Literacy
Besides the fact that I’m close friends with folks inside both of these organizations, I believe the work these groups do is vital to our collective well-being. Washtenaw Literacy has been helping people improve their reading, writing, math and ESL skills for over 40 years. Similarly, the Student Advocacy Center has been helping students get back into school and stay in school for nearly 45 years. Without the hard work of groups like these, our community’s most disadvantaged groups would be destined to stay that way.
Robbie Bolog – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library & Musicians On Call
Music is the obvious underlying theme with most things in Nashville, and was the catalyst for me moving from Ann Arbor to Nashville five years ago. Musicians On Call was one of the first organizations our band volunteered for after getting to town, and they continue to have a huge positive impact on hospital patients of all ages by delivering bedside performances from local musicians.
My other selection, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, was a collaborative pick with my wife, Jen. She’s enrolled two of her nephews in the program and already has plans to sign up our own child who we’re expecting at the end of February. The charity provides a free book every month to children from birth until they start school. We both feel strongly that books & reading in general are super important for early development, especially in today’s always-on, device-driven world.
Taylor Caldron – Alternatives for Girls
While I don’t live in Detroit anymore, I knew I wanted to nominate a Detroit-area initiative for my portion of the charitable giving program. I reached out to some friends that still live in the Woodbridge neighborhood for their suggestions, and immediately knew that Alternatives for Girls was the right choice. AFG helps homeless and at-risk girls and young women by providing stable homes and prevention services, as well as conducting outreach to those engaged in high-risk activities. They do a lot to ensure that Detroiters have access to the support they need to live safely. I’m very happy that we were able to support them this year.
Kristin Coleman – LACASA
I selected LACASA Center in Livingston County to receive my part of our charitable donations. LACASA supports and advocates for survivors of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. They provide prevention, education and awareness to strengthen families and make our community safer. Their programs provide support for families facing problems that can often be hidden or ignored. I encourage, support and admire their work to help victims and their families, and to educate our community.
Riley Duncan – PENCIL
As a Nashville native and graduate of Hillsboro High School, I was excited to be able to nominate PENCIL, an organization that partners with Metro Nashville Public Schools. As Nashville continues to grow, the school system’s need for resources and support grows as well. PENCIL helps link community resources and businesses with the needs of students, working to provide reading support for elementary school students, distribute school supplies to teachers, and help high school students prepare for different career industries. I’m excited to support PENCIL and their focus on improving the opportunities and resources available to students and teachers in Metro Nashville Public Schools.
David Oltean – The Ferndale Cat Shelter
I don’t think any of my co-workers were surprised when I suggested my portion of charitable donations go to The Ferndale Cat Shelter. I’m on the Board of Directors of the no-kill cat shelter and have been a volunteer since 2016, so I see first hand how hard our staff and volunteers work to rescue, nurture and place cats throughout Metro Detroit. As a no-kill cat shelter, the organization often takes in cats with disabilities or health impairments that would otherwise be euthanized, and they’re committed to finding loving homes for senior and terminally ill cats through their Forever Foster program. They also opened up Michigan’s first cat cafe, The Catfe Lounge, back in 2015 as a community space to interact with cats up for adoption. It’s a sweet spot for crazy cat people like me.
We’re proud to support the eight organizations listed above and hope our contributions help them to continue to make a positive impact and fight for their respective causes. As we look ahead to 2020, we’re hoping for an even bigger and better year so we can increase our support for the many wonderful non-profit organizations that operate within our communities.