The spirit of the holiday season acts as a friendly reminder to embrace our inner generosity. We give gifts to our loved ones, donate to our favorite charities, and try to make the world a teeny bit better.
But what happens when the holidays reach their end? Do we let our feelings of goodwill and community disappear with our Christmas trees, or do we work to keep that spirit alive and well all year? At TriCom, we believe the responsibility is on individuals and companies to continue doing their part.
In our experience, it’s easier to keep the spirit of community going when you partner with non-profits that work for the right causes. If you are a member of the Kansas City or Twin Cities communities like us, you’ll find it’s hard not to immediately want to give and volunteer with these big-hearted organizations too.
KC Cristo Rey High School
If it takes a community to raise a child, it is equally important to be invested in that child’s education and future – especially when not everyone wins the zip code lottery at birth. One organization working to close the educational gap is Cristo Rey Kansas City, a Catholic college prep school empowering a culturally diverse group of students in economic need to achieve college acceptance and successful careers.
A private education is made affordable to these bright young minds through scholarship funding and a one-day-per-week work-study program that covers half their education costs. We have sponsored two high school students through Cristo Rey’s work-study program, giving them meaningful entry-level work that helps foster their work ethic and build their professional experience.
Beyond their work-study program, Cristo Rey depends on other contributions from individuals and organizations to support their students. Each year, we sponsor their flagship fundraiser, “Dancing with the KC Stars,” to bolster the school’s operating budget for the coming year. For the graduating Senior class, there is the Cristo Rey Scholarship Program, which we donate to annually, that helps promising students afford their college education. Through contributions to Cristo Rey’s Board of Trustees, business leaders can join people like our own Founder and CEO, Matt Sharples, as they ensure and protect the best interests of future generations.
Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault
Sexual violence is a difficult reality in the United States. We cannot overlook that one in six women will be the victim of a completed or attempted rape, or that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused during their childhood. Instead, we need to take action. That is what the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) aims to do in Kansas City, preventing sexual violence in our communities and helping “victims become survivors.”
MOCSA’s programs include:
- A 24-Hour Crisis Line to provide victims and their families with information, referrals, problem-solving, and emotional support for issues related to sexual violence.
- Counseling for Adults and Children to help victims and their families cope with and heal from the trauma they’ve experienced.
- School-based, Community, and Professional Education to boost awareness, safety, and the ability of people in authority to spot the warning signs to protect potential or current victims.
- SAFE (Sexual Assault Free Environment) Training to transform restaurants and bars into safer spaces where employees act as allies to prevent sexual assault.
As the only organization of its kind in the Kansas City metropolitan area, the ongoing services provided by MOCSA need our support. That is why we have been a partner since 2001 and worked to raise funds through two primary methods:
- The Annual Golf Tournament – For the last 18 years running, we have fully underwritten a yearly charity golf tournament to raise around $25,000 to $30,000 each year, with every dollar raised going to support MOCSA’s general operating budget.
- Community Luncheon – Since 2002, we have also supported MOCSA’s flagship fundraiser, their annual “Community Luncheon,” which highlights the special work their organization does in Kansas City to improve the lives of those impacted by sexual abuse and assault and prevent sexual violence in our community.
Whether you donate, volunteer, or even get involved in the MOCSA Board of Directors as Matt Sharples did for many years, you’ll be helping an organization that makes an incredible difference.
No End to Amazing Partners
That is just the tip of the iceberg. Each year, we dedicate ourselves to donating around 5% of our net income to charities in the Kansas City and Twin Cities region, something we encourage other businesses to do as well. What we’ve found is there is no shortage of incredible partners in need of our time and donations:
- MHTA Foundation – This organization is dedicated to developing the Minnesota STEM workforce through outreach initiatives, education, and $600,000 in scholarships. We helped as a lead sponsor of their “Bids & Bytes Benefit,” which raises funds for their programs.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City – For over 50 years, this highly recognized organization has helped develop life-long and life-changing connections for at-risk youth and mentors. At any given time, there are 1,300 active matches waiting for people like you.
Honestly, give back in any way you want. As long as you take the time to contribute where your passions lie, we’ll continue to have communities where the spirit of generosity and goodwill thrives.
Want to learn more about the organizations we are involved with? Contact us today and we can help to direct you as you do good in our communities.
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