The season of giving has officially begun, making it the perfect time to reflect on all the ways Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD) has come together to give back to the many communities to which it belongs. From community service initiatives to hosting charity events and supporting food drives, ACD and our members proudly participate in a variety of charitable activities throughout the year.
As animal lovers, ACD staff traveled this April to a farm in Centreville, Virginia to volunteer at the Humane Society of Fairfax County (HSFC). The farm is home to dogs and horses who are part of the HSFC’s greater no-kill shelter where it welcomes and finds homes for abused or unwanted dogs, cats, horses, and other animals in need of care. After a long day’s work on the farm, the ACD staff was able to spend time with their new furry friends.
October was also a busy month. As part of ACD’s main charitable event of the year, we co-hosted the second annual Swings for STEM, a golf tournament in support of the Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) for students pursuing STEM degrees at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and CEFinSTEM, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring K–8 students to pursue STEM education and careers by providing free, hands-on learning programs and resources. STEM education has become an increasingly important tool for our members’ ability to remain competitive today, and this event represents a significant way we can invest in the future of our industry. ACD staff and members were joined by Congressional staff and other industry leaders as they competed in a round of golf. Overall, nine FOSSI scholars and 20 organizations attended the event, and we successfully raised more than $110,000 to support these scholars’ futures.
Every year, ACD also celebrates and honors our Chief Operating Officer, Lucinda Schofer, for her journey with breast cancer by walking in the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk on behalf of our team, “Alliance for Hope.” This year, Lucinda raised nearly $2,800 on behalf of the Alliance for Hope, which will contribute to life-saving research and medicine for those living with breast cancer. We encourage everyone to read Lucinda’s story here.
This November, ACD staff participated in a friendly competition across the office to collect food donations for the Arlington Food Assistance Center, whose mission is to provide community members in need with access to nutritious, free, and supplemental groceries. ACD donated part of its community service budget to the AFAC in hopes that it would help SNAP beneficiaries and furloughed federal workers who were trying to feed their families during the government shutdown. And just this month at the Alliance’s Annual Meeting, members had the chance to participate in a community service activity to assemble Veterans Care Kits filled with essential items to be donated to veterans in need.
This holiday season, ACD will once again partner with the Northern Virginia Family Services’ (NVFS) toy drive. From housing and health care to workforce development and early childhood education, the NVFS helps support the financial, emotional, and physical well-being of its community members. During the holiday season and beyond, ACD is proud to do its part to be a responsible and contributing member of our society, empowering our neighbors, supporting those in need, and building a connected community. We’d love to hear more about ACD members’ initiatives to give back this holiday season! If you’d like to share your plans, please tell us more in the comments.
You must be logged in to post a comment.