Blog Updates

On Sunday morning, June 5th, 2016, Diane Frate, Lisa Slen, and Sabina Frison joined the “Benjamin’s and Beyond” team for the Hope in Motion cancer walk & run in Stamford, CT. This is a year-round fundraising initiative for the Bennett Cancer Center at Stamford Hospital.

Thousands of walkers and runners packed together at Columbus Park under banners and signs to honor those who survived cancer and others at the 21st annual Hope in Motion fundraiser. The event is held to coincide with National Cancer Survivor’s Day.
More than 230 teams took part in the 5K walk which followed a route up Atlantic and Bedford streets and down Summer Street back to Columbus Park.
Here we are…

Through their signature event, the Walk & Run and other events throughout the year, the community comes together to raise funds for cancer patients in the community. For 21 years, the Bennett Cancer Center has provided the highest standard of care in the area to the community’s cancer patients and their families in a warm and supportive environment. 100% of the funds raised through Hope in Motion go directly to programs and services at the Bennett Cancer Center, all provided free of charge to their patients. Support ranges from individual grants to support patients’ living expenses, transportation to and from treatment, nutrition coaching, and family and group counseling.

By Diane Frate

[Photo above, Peggy Budnick, 4th from left, with Valley Human Supporters and Friends at the gala.]

“Tails at Twilight” Gala, benefiting Dogs, Cats, Seniors and Pet Guardians throughout the Bay Area.

On March 4,2016, Peggy Budnick was honored to represent Corporate Visions as a key sponsor for the Valley Humane Society’s “Tails at Twilight”, a Speakeasy-themed gala held at the Ruby Hills Golf Club in Pleasanton, California.

[Photo above: Valley Humane Society Supporters]

This second annual event was attended by over 200 animal lovers, and raised over $40,000 for the Society’s programs and services, including the rescue of local dogs and cats, children’s humane education, and community services such as AniMeals pet food pantry and Canine Comfort pet therapy.

Valley Humane Society has been a part of the local community for over 28 years, working to create a brighter future for cats and dogs by strengthening the bond between people and pets. Beyond rescuing and rehabilitating abandoned companion animals, Valley Humane supports and preserves existing pet-guardian relationships through partnerships with groups like Hope Hospice and Bay Area food banks. They work hand in hand with the community to provide a wide array of services including providing necessary supplies to struggling pet guardians, promoting children’s literacy with a canine partner or bringing a friendly furry face to lonely seniors.
Thank you Corporate Visions for your generous support of this successful and fun event!

[by Peggy Budnick]

On March 5th, 2016, Alyssa & I co-chaired a fundraiser called Band Together. The event (live music, food, and some auction items) raised over $30,000 for the Willowbrook Corner Youth Learning Program – which provides educational and recreational opportunities to at-risk children residing in the low-income Willowbrook Corner neighborhood. A true highlight of the evening was when our guest speakers, Artelia and her children Amar’e and Ariyanna (pictured below) shared how this program continues to make a huge difference in their lives.

For Artelia, Willowbrook Corner has provided a safe and positive place for her children during non-school hours, allowing her to hold down a full-time job. Artelia’s gratitude for the Staff at Willowbrook Corner and her testimony to what a great source of emotional support they provided for her family during some very difficult times was both encouraging and inspiring. It was so apparent that for Amar’e and Ariyanna, Willowbrook Corner is a community of support both academically and socially. It is also a place for them to practice positive decision-making skills, to make connections with people outside of their neighborhood and have extra-curricular experiences that they would otherwise not have access.

Donations are always accepted for Willowbrook Corner at: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=037288

[By Matt Guido]

On April 5th, eight members of the CVI Doylestown office volunteered at the Bucks County Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The ReStore sells donated furniture, housewares, home décor, appliances, books and much more, with proceeds helping to fund Habitat’s efforts to provide affordable housing in Bucks County. The ReStore’s goal is that one years’ worth of profits from the store can build one home for the community. In addition to Habitat’s mission of building affordable housing, the ReStore helps to collect items for those projects and promotes reusing and recycling within the community.

Before the team arrived, two large trucks of office furniture had already pulled up to the dock, so we got right to work moving over a dozen large desks, chairs, cabinets and bookcases. After everything was unloaded, we did our best to make room for those items by moving around the current displays. Items are constantly coming and going in the store and the Habitat team tries to feature its best or seasonal items in the front. After lots of heavy lifting, Elise Moores, Leslie Morgan and Cassie Galster put their organizational skills to work arranging countless office, patio and dining room chairs.

Justin Bowers, Evan O’Donnell, Brent Alwood, Tim Brooks and Jim Jordan (who was also celebrating a birthday) separated the furniture into categories and created rows the so customers could browse the store easily. The guys put their strength to work (along with the ladies) as everyone unloaded, moved, rolled and stacked pretty much anything they could find.

It was a tiring day, but the team did a great job and Habitat was grateful for their help and time.

[By Cassie Galster]

FamilyWorks is a food bank and family resource center that serves the hungry in North Seattle. FamilyWorks opens the food bank three times a week and Conrad Smith is fortunate to be able to help out on the line from time to time.

“This is where I go to get grounded in humility and humanity. I make it a priority to spend a couple of hours there when I am in town.”
[By Conrad Smith]

The Darien, Connecticut Corporate Visions Team of Diane Frate and Lisa Slen had the opportunity to assist Person-2-Person with their “Be a Santa” program on March 10th, 2016.
This program provides Person-2-Person with new household items and clothing. An inventory of these items is kept year round so they are able to help families moving from shelters into apartments.
“Be a Santa” goods also are handy in times of crisis such as a house fire when a family is forced to start over again.
The goods are donated by employees of large local corporations. This program works along the same line as The Salvation Army with their Angel Tree donations, only this is year round. Employees select tags and shop throughout the year for the suggested goods, then are collected and brought to Person-2-Person to distribute.

The first part of the morning was sorting through baskets filled with new children’s pajamas. They were sized and sorted by gender. From there it was on to the attic where new kitchen items were reorganized, condensed, and placed into new clothing bins.

Also, on this particular day, Diane and Lisa were asked to assist in choosing clothing for a Syrian refugee family that arrived in the United States the previous day with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The family consisted of a widowed mother and five children ranging in age from three to twelve. They were temporarily housed in a convent in Wilton, Connecticut.

The following morning, the family along with an interpreter, were transported to Person-2-Person where the Staff presented them with clothing and household items. Then the biggest surprise of all was when they introduced them to their new home in Stamford, Connecticut.

This was an amazing, wonderful, and rewarding experience/feeling to “leave a mark” on the lives of this young family.

{written by Diane Frate}

Corporate Visions’ Vice President of Technology, Dustin Ring and his girlfriend, Erin Alpers, volunteered at NNCCF’s (Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation) annual St. Baldrick’s fundraiser on March 18, 2016.

St. Baldrick’s head-shaving events began as a challenge between businessmen and has grown from one event, which began in 2000, to over 1,300 events in 2013. These events raise critical funds for childhood cancer research. Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, helps families focus on getting their children better because the fight against cancer is not an easy task. The organization gives assistance for medical co-pays, mortgage or rent, travel expenses for treatment, household utilities, and so much more to allow families to focus on what matters most, which is, getting their children to become healthy.

The event in Reno, Nevada raised more money than ever…over $250,000 and still counting! That’s $50,000 above the goal!!! This was the biggest year ever and we are so excited to be able to help support children’s cancer research through such a fun event!

*Anyone can be a part of this great cause by clicking on the links below.

For more information on St. Baldricks: http://www.stbaldricks.org/head-shaving/
For more information on NNCCF: https://nvchildrenscancer.org/

[By Dustin Ring]

On March 9th, three of us from Larkspur Office, [back row left to right] Teresa Kwan, Geoff Kinnaird, and Charlotte Kobayashi, visited the ten 4th graders at Bahia Elementary School in San Rafael, California . These 4th graders received bicycles, helmets and locks, through collaborative efforts of San Rafael Elks Lodge 1108 and Corporate Visions, Inc. We wanted to receive feedback from the students as to what changed since they received the bicycles in November of 2015. Here are some of the comments from 5 of the students:

Pascual– “I did not have a bicycle before. Now I can ride to the bay trail behind the school and spend more time with my family. We ride bikes as my parents walk along the trail.”

Samuel– “I am now more inspired to enter more contests as I like the challenge and have fun doing it.” See video link for his comments: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3gbw9lfgwmy4ah1/AAC9OcWx_riE9R1TdJqVbnPHa?dl=0&preview=2016-03-09+20.55.31.mp4

Edilson– “I entered to replace my old bike and now I am more inspired to enter more contests.”

Angie– “I have a dream to become a professional bicyclist but I was not able to do the trick like the professionals so I now practice 10 minutes a day and hopefully I will be able to do more tricks in the future.” To see video of Angie’s feedback, click on this link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3gbw9lfgwmy4ah1/AAC9OcWx_riE9R1TdJqVbnPHa?dl=0&preview=2016-03-09+20.57.34.mp4

Diego- “Because my bicycle was stolen, I entered the essay contest to win a new bike. Now I am able to do more stuff with my Dad like I used to before my bike was stolen.”

Here is what the staff have to stay about the noticeable changes: [to be completed]

On April 22nd, the 15 additional bicycles, helmets and locks will be offered to the remaining 15 students who turned in their essays but not selected the first go around.
They will be surprised when they will each receive their bicycles, helmets and locks at the assembly in April. Stay tuned for another report on the reaction of the 15 additional students.

[By Charlotte Kobayashi]

[Back row left to right: Joe Elquez, Kevin Young, Joe Terry, Mike A. Miller, Tyler McDonald, Scott Parks. Seated left to right: Randi Newbould and Jaime Farrar]

The Pleasanton Corporate Visions’ teams had two great opportunities to take a little time out on March 9th and 15th to help package food for Kids Against Hunger. Kids Against Hunger was started to help feed children affected by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. They now service many areas of the world to feed starving children by providing them with a nutritious packaged meal.

Jaime Farrar, CVI Project Manager, did a fantastic job in coordinating two groups of P-Town employees to volunteer for both days.

Kids Against Hunger is a unique organization in that they do not send canned or nonperishable goods – they have actually created a recipe for a packaged meal that consists of a mixture of rice, soy, vitamins, and vegetables (think REALLY nutritious Rice-a-Roni tasting stuff) and can provide 6 meal servings for only $0.20 a serving. [See photo below] For more information, please go to KAH website: http://kidsagainsthungerpleasanton.org/.

[Photo below: left to right: Joe Elquez, Jaime Farrar and Kevin Young]

And… the second shift…on March 15, 2016 {Photo below from left to right: Back row- Kevin Young, Peggy Budnick, Jordan Atkinson, Dominic Marquis, Tatyana Bondarenko. Front left with sign: Nina Litvinchuk, Savannah Kimball- behind, Shelley Walker-front with sign on right, Kelly Wong, Terri Yurkovich, Diane DiSalvo and Kevin Guthrie]

Crew at work…[Photo below from left to right: Kelly, Peggy, Nina, Diane, Savannah, Dominic, Terri, Kevin G., Shelley, Jordan, Kevin Y. and Tatyana]

Two CVI Volunteer Teams – one from March 9th team that packaged of 1,944 meals and March 15th team of 3,024 meals, will feed a total of 4,968 hungry kids! Quite amazing!

Kathryn Sikorski took a volunteer day on Feb 19, 2016 to work on tree planting at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. They planted over 700 trees and set another 500 for planting. These trees are making a new wetland habitat area along the Rio Grande river in New Mexico.

[By Kathryn Sikorski]