FTC CARES E X T E N D ING FTC CORPORATE PHILAN TH ROPY F R O M THE HEARTS OF OU R EM P LOYE ES
A CO M PANY W I TH H E A RT I believe that what truly sets FTC apart is the extraordinary depth of our social mission. We are a company with heart. Giving back to make a positive impact on the lives of others has always been a central value at the heart of FTC’s corporate DNA since its very inception - and one of the most important aspects of all that we do together. This year in particular, with the wide-ranging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the very fabric of our communities, we feel it is especially important to support organizations that are helping others in need. Just as people are struggling to make it through this pandemic, so too are charitable organizations providing essential support and services for their communities. Many of these are serving larger populations than ever during this difficult time - and are struggling for critical funding to make their work possible. We were overwhelmed by the wonderful response from our holiday FTC Cares initiative, and we are overjoyed to donate to each and every one of these charitable organizations that are so meaningful to our employees. It’s just one small way that all of us at FTC can share the spirit of this season together. Blessings to you and your families this holiday season,
Vaseal Montgomery
SAV E CI TY M E N TORI NG https://m.facebook.com/SaveCity-Mentoring-110294910828935
MISSION To support aspiration of young men by building character and equipping them with strong life skills through mentoring by not only being the example but living the example.
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This organization is founded by a minority disabled Army Veteran who lost his 17 year old brother to a shooting accident. While he worked as a counselor for several years it was the loss of his brother that sparked the desire to help his community. This foundation seeks to help young men within the city, juvenile centers and mental rehab centers work towards bettering their mental and physical states of wellbeing through coaching, mentoring and leadership workshops and activities. They realize the struggles that young men face due to instability in family, loss of love ones, violence, PTSD and more. They will strive to provide them with a new vision of life and empower them to become the successful young men they were always meant to be. C RYSTA L P.
HEROES N I GH T O U T VETERAN S R ES OUR C E C EN TER https://heroesnightout.org/
MISSION To enhance and support Service Members, Veterans, First Responders and their family members through programs and services in a caring, safe, family-friendly environment.
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This is an organization that is managed by Veterans, for Veterans. They operate a resource center (manned by Veterans) where Veterans can come for a “one stop shop” for any and all benefits they qualify for. They provide everything from a cup of coffee and an ear to assistance with disability claims, home loans, counseling, whatever the Veteran needs. They bring counselors, VSO’s and subject matter experts to the Veteran rather than have the Veteran try to figure out where to go for help. They also manage a food bank specific to Veterans on site. COVID has forced them to cancel almost all of their fund raising events for this year which is negatively impacting their operating budget. They have had to reduce their operating hours (now Monday through Thursday) in order to keep their doors open. MITC HE L L F.
WILDT H UN DE R W. A . R. S . W ILD LIF E & AN I M AL R E H A B IL ITAT IO N AN D SAN CT UA RY https://www.wildthunderwars.org
MISSION Wildthunder W.A.R.S works with multiple species of injured and orphaned wildlife; these animals include reptiles, bats, raptors, and mammals as well as exotic animals.
“ This organization is a rehab/sanctuary/rescue with a heart. Tracy Belle does not hesitate to jump in and help, giving all creatures a second chance. She is the go to person for injured animals (be it pelicans, eagles, squirrels, cats, bob cats, fox, dogs, any animal in need).
BARBARA M.
GUI DE DOGS FOR T H E B L I N D https://www.guidedogs.com/
MISSION Guide Dogs for the Blind empowers lives by creating exceptional partnerships between people, dogs, and communities.
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Their mission means a lot to me because they have matched me with several wonderful guide dogs, most notably my wonderful girl Tofu (pictured at right!), who I got in March of 2019 just after starting at FTC. Tofu is an amazing guide, companion and friend and she has been my constant companion throughout this pandemic. She also has allergies and has required many expensive vet visits and tests which wouldn’t be possible without the incredible generosity of Guidedogs vet assistance program. No other school covers these expenses or provides the amazing level of follow up Guide Dogs has done for me throughout the years. O L I VI A N.
RE ADIN G I S FUN DAM EN TA L www.rif.org
MISSION Committed to a literate America by inspiring a passion for reading among all children, providing quality content to make an impact and engaging communities in the solution to give every child the fundamentals for success. As the nation’s largest children’s literacy non-profit, Reading Is Fundamental maximizes every contribution to ensure all children have the ability to read and succeed.
“ This organization is near and dear to my heart, first of all because it promotes literacy in the age when we are all glued to the video content. Second, I have started my career there and I have never met a group more dedicated to the mission than RIF. Even after it lost Congressional funding, the organization went from $27 million a year to $0 overnight. It kept reinventing itself and being creative with resources available.
MAXIM R.
HOP E H E L P S , I N C . https://www.hopehelps.org/
MISSION HOPE Helps, Inc’s mission is to prevent and reduce homelessness in Central Florida by equipping individuals and families to become self-sufficient through Housing, Outreach, Prevention, and Education.
“ I believe in “Little things make big Things to Happen”. I am spending time with this organization by volunteering and donating non-perishable food to kids on regular basis. I am very much impressed with their mission and its activities. In this crisis situation, our small help will make big impact on needy people to believe in humanity.
AVAYA M BA L K .
CC H S FO UN DAT IO N https://cchsnetwork.org
MISSION Building Community, Empowering Patients, and Championing CCHS Research.
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CCHS stands for Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome. Congenital means that you are born with the condition. Central hypoventilation means that the hypoventilation (under breathing) is due to a disorder in the bottom of the brain, just above the back of the neck. Syndrome means a group of symptoms that consistently occur together or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms. CCHS is a rare lifelong and life-threatening disorder. Willa Woodring is my best friend’s 3 year old daughter.
CL AI RE B .
PR I DE OF PARADI S E I N ST RU M EN TA L MU S I C B OOST ER S https://sites.google.com/pvlearners.net/pvhsmusic/home
MISSION Our mission is to provide a well-rounded and thrilling music education experience for the students of Paradise Valley High School that includes opportunities to perform in ensembles of every type: Orchestra, Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Pit Orchestra, Chamber Music, among others.
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In a normal year, we would raise about $7,000 in student fees for the marching band season, historically charging $100 per student. This year, because families were hurting we only asked for $25 per student, and only 30% of parents responded. Even so, we purchased software that allowed our music director to create online collaborations and performances for students. And we purchased PPE for in-person school when the school district would not provide the supplies. We even designed and made special instrumental face masks that allowed students to perform together safely. With another three months of virtual learning ahead of us, we’re working with the director to determine what other innovative technologies he needs that will help these students have as robust a music experience as a virtual environment can provide. It’s a big challenge. J O LO U S .
ALZHEIM E R ’S AS S OC IATIO N N ATION AL CAP I TAL R EG IO N https://www.alz.org/nca
MISSION The National Capital Area Chapter serves people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and their families and caregivers in the District of Columbia, suburban and Southern Maryland and Northern Virginia. The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.
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When I met my now husband in 2014, his mother Vicky Webster Rosser was in the late stages of early onset Alzheimer’s. She was diagnosed when Drew was a freshman in college. She went from a successful government executive for the Department of Labor, mother of two, pillar in the community to being unable to recognize her children or husband, feed herself, or even speak. It was truly the saddest and most profound experience of my life about the fragility of life, how you must never take any day for granted, and your friends and family are paramount. I was by her bedside when she unfortunately lost her battle at only 58 years old. I know how much it’s affected our family, and truly hope no other family feels that type of pain. MO N ICA R.
ST. JO H N ’S COL L EG E HIGH S C H O OL FU N D https://stjohnschs.myschoolapp.com/page/support/make-a-gift?siteId=897
MISSION Each year, donations to the St. John’s Fund enhance the education and character development of St. John’s students. These funds strengthen the school’s programs and serve as an important endorsement of the school’s mission to open doors, unlock talents and build leaders.
“ The baseball program at St. John’s College Highschool helped facilitate a Catholic Education for not only our son but many others that would not have been able to afford the tuition. We have always contributed to this special Fund but not nearly as much as we wanted.
JO HN M .
AUT I S M S OC I ETY O F T E X AS Â https://www. texasautismsociety.org
MISSION The Autism Society of Texas changes lives by connecting families and individuals to community resources and support throughout Texas. Offerings include advocacy, education events, Information & Referrals, support meetings; on-line networking opportunities; Sensory Friendly films; and fun family activities. The organization relies on donations to support its work and keep services free for families and autistic adults.
“ When my son Jude was diagnosed with autism 6 years ago, I was introduced to this organization. They are a community based organization that focuses on the community for parents, children and resources.
M EL C .
BUF FALO C I T Y SW I M RAC ER S (B C S R ) http://www.buffaloracers.org/
MISSION BCSR is a 501c3 providing a free competitive USA Swimming program to inner city youth. Inner city youth typically do not know how to swim, are not eligible as non-swimmers to participate in popular Buffalo public high school sports such as swimming, rowing and sailing, and are poorly prepared for charter schools such as the Naval JROTC program at Western New York Maritime Charter. BCSR covers all equipment, transportation, club, and entrance fees for the competitive swimming program.
“ I was the founding president of BCSR. We had approximately 60 young grade students in 2012. The program now has over 400 swimmers, the oldest of which are high school athletes prepared for collegiate swimming.
K E VI N K .
BA R KI N G H OL L ER FO UN DAT I ON https://www.barkingholler.org/
MISSION Barking Holler Animal Sanctuary was established in 2003 to rescue and rehabilitate dogs, cats, and farm animals. Barking Holler works closely with animal control and other local shelters to provide a safe shelter to animals who need extra love and support.
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My wife, Caryn (pictured at right) has known the owner of Barking Holler Animal Sanctuary for 25 years and currently sits on the board of directors for the organization. Caryn describes Barking Holler as a very special place where she gets in touch with nature and makes a difference in the lives of animals which have been rescued from mistreatment in their life. It’s the best feeling in the world when the animals all come running over when they see us walking with their treats. The whole family enjoys taking care of the animals and making sure they have a better life. M AT T B .
GRYMES ME M OR I AL S C HO O L http://www.grymesschool.org/
MISSION Grymes Memorial School instills in students an enthusiasm for learning. The School provides a strong academic foundation and encourages thinking that is creative, reasoned and analytical. The social, physical, and artistic growth of each student is em-phasized in an atmosphere of respect, fairness and honesty.
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Grymes Memorial School is an independent day school providing a safe and nurturing environment for joyful learning. My two children currently attend Grymes, which has maintained in-person learning throughout the pandemic due to its small class sizes and flexibility. What makes Grymes unique is its passionate teachers and a vibrant curriculum that integrates core subjects with visual arts, music, and performing arts. However, tuition is not enough to cover the cost of a Grymes education – the “tuition gap” is approximately $4,500 per student. Donations help make this incredible program possible while keeping tuition affordable for this and generations. M AGG I E B.
SAVE T H E C H I L D www.savethechild.org
MISSION Every child is entitled to live their childhood with basic necessary needs. “To create an environment of hope and respect for the children with needs and assist each child in reaching their maximum potential through holistic interventions . We, a group of individuals who believe that it is our social responsibility to advocate child rights achieve this mission by empoweringthe local organizations, mainly in India, Nepal, Uganda, US (Texas), that cater to the needs of special needs children.We also strengthen our mission by inspiring others to join us in the movement of the welfare of every child with disabling challenges.”
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This organization is very close to me because we are able to educate and discuss the global topics with kids 12 and older through a program called ChangeMakers 2030 where these kids will continue the legacy and give back to the society upto to their best ability. We offer this course/program every school year for kids nationwide (Miami, NJ, California, in person classes in Texas). We teach them how they can be thankful with what they have and how they can be part of the society and give back to society. Kids are also involved in street cleaning, and Feeding South Florida programs. LAVAN YA E .
HOP E DR E AM C E N T ER www.islandsofhope.org
MISSION The Islands of Hope Dream Center provides hope and healing to survivors of sex-trafficking. It offers a safe, homelike environment for women rescued from sex-trafficking, initially in Hawaii, and now expanding to Missouri.
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I have seen first-hand the impact Islands of Hope Dream Center has on women who society has written off. They take in the most challenging survivors, broken and hurting, and give them the opportunity to be restored and lead productive lives. As a member of their board, I donate my time and resources to see that their mission to rescue women is advanced and promoted. Since 2014, they worked with federal, state, and local government agencies and other non-profits to house and restore women of all ages. They are the only such facility in Hawaii and they are expanding, building another home in Missouri (exact locations are kept secret for security purposes) opening in 2021. JA M ES L .
F EE DI N G AME R ICA https://www.feedingamerica.org/
MISSION The nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, working to connect people with food and end hunger.
“ This charity is important to my family because the pandemic has left so many unemployed and struggling to provide food for their families. During the holiday season, it’s even more important for us to give back and make sure the hungry are fed. Feeding America provides meals to over 40 million people a year, so we know they are effective in their mission.
BEN JAMIN L.
WOUNDE D WAR R I OR P R OJ ECT http://woundedwarriorproject.org/
MISSION WWP helps Veterans with post-service injuries, both physical and mental. They help Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
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A few years ago, I read more Veterans were dying of suicide upon coming home from war than those killed in action. That knowledge affected me deeply; I decided I would change the course of my life for it. I started working in military medicine and donating to these causes, and directed my volunteer efforts to veterans. As of then, I have married someone in the military, and my sister has joined, so organizations like WWP are now even more meaningful and personal to me. PA R I SA N.
TE XAS ALL I AN C E FOR M IN O RIT IES IN E N GI N E E R I N G ( TA M E) https://www.tame.org/
MISSION TAME inspires and prepares Texas students who experience barriers to STEM achievement -- specifically economic, racial, and gender barriers at Title 1 schools. TAME offers K-12 programming in the form of after-school STEM Clubs; regional and state competitions focusing on math, science, and engineering design; and a hands-on mobile STEM museum and also provides college scholarships and a mentorship program to help see them through to academic and career success.
“ I am personally interested in our country becoming more fair and equal - where all people have the same opportunity to have high paying jobs that have historically been available only to a portion of the population. My wife works at TAME and is really helping bring that about and I am so proud of her! Their organization does so much to promote equality and opportunity.
JOH N H .
OT H E R S UB MIS S IO N S PETS OF THE HOMELESS
https://www.petsofthehomeless.org/ Submitted by Karyn K.
Nationwide organization that helps feed and provide basic emergency veterinary care to pets of homeless people
SOCK IT TO EM
https://ophrescue.org Submitted by Jane S.
This organization provides comfort and warmth for homeless people by giving clean, unused socks to people in need.
S H AT T E R P R O O F
https://www.shatterproof.org/ Submitted by Pamela S.
Shatterproof focuses on advocacy programs and legislation, attempting to reduce the gap between funding needed for public drug addiction programs and funding actually received by these programs. Their goal is to reduce the amount of drug-related deaths in this country by 50% over the next 20 years and they have partnered with MLB teams and hotel chains in order to do this.
O P E R AT I O N PA W S F O R H O M E S
https://ophrescue.org Submitted by Stephen J.
Nonprofit organization devoted to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of dogs and cats rescued from overcrowded high kill shelters in the southern region of the United States, primarily shelters in South and North Carolina, as well as Virginia.
S T. J U D E C H I L D R E N R E S E A R C H H O S P ITA L
https://stjude.org Submitted by Dennis C.
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
ANGEL FLIGHT SOUTH CENTRAL
https://www.angelflightsc.org/ Submitted by Ray L.
Non-profit organization that provides free air transportation for medical and humanitarian purposes. Most of the people transported have serious issues, mostly cancer, and are transported via air by volunteer pilots.
OT H E R S UBM IS S IO N S JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH F O U N DAT I O N
https://www.jdrf.org/ Submitted by Robert F.
JDRF has enabled breakthrough discoveries in type 1 diabetes care since 1971. JDRF has long displayed outstanding stewardship of its resources.
Y O U T H C O M M U N I T Y I M PA C T A S S O C I AT I O N https://tinyurl.com/yciawebsite Submitted by Yeou D.
YCIA is a student based organization founded in 2017 that works to help the local community. Our volunteers help immigrants prepare for the naturalization tests, teach English to elderly immigrants, and performs for a senior home. Our group has many accomplishments such as raising 3,000$ for Minnie’s Food Pantry, which provided over 9,000 meals. Additionally, we worked at places like Feed my starving children to feed less fortunate kids in other countries. Most importantly, we’ve had a significant impact during the time of COVID-19, by providing 500 dollars’ worth of meals to our crucial front line workers.
FEEDING SOUTH FLORIDA
https://feedingsouthflorida.org/ Submitted by Elaine C.
Providing hunger relief for the growing population of food insecure residents of South Florida, an area that depends heavily on the hospitality industry and that has been especially hard-hit by COVID-19 restrictions.
C A LV A R Y F O O D PA N T R Y
www.calvaryfletcher.org Submitted by Peggy W.
It is an authorized distributor of federal SAM and Henderson County TEFAP food. The goal is to provide at least half a week’s provisions per weekly visit and aims to provide 45-50% of a family’s needs in fruits, vegetables, and grains, 25% of its milk, and 90% of its protein. Before the Pandemic, on the last Saturday of the month, the Pantry provided blood pressure checks and nutrition counseling.
INCYTE CANCER C A R E A S S I S TA N C E F U N D
https://cancersupportdelaware.org/resources/incyte-cancer-care-assistance-fund/ Submitted by Carolyn D. Incyte Cancer Care Assistance Fund Cancer Support Community Delaware is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. All services are provided free of charge, and they must rely on the generosity of government, foundations, corporations and individuals to continue the programs. The Incyte Cancer Care Assistance Fund provides both emotional, medical and financial support to cancer patients and thier families.
LAST B UT N OT L E AST. . . For many years now, FTC has generously supported Aqua for Life - an organization dedicated to providing clean drinking water to those in need in developing countries. By raising global awareness, involving passionate activists and volunteers, and implementing practical clean-water solutions, causelife provides clean, safe water that changes lives and transforms communities. By digging deep bore clean-water wells in some of the neediest countries, causelife is helping to establish mindsets of sustainability and future health. For most impoverished communities, daily life is simply about surviving.
As a continuation of our support for this impactful organization, FTC will also donate $1,000 to each of the impoverished villages that has received a well through Aqua for Life. These funds will be used to provide healthy meals to village residents. Los Bordos, El Jicaro, Guatemala Colonia El Milagro, El Rancho, Guatemala El Mangal, San Jorge, Guatemala El Cementerio, El Rancho, Guatemala
La Cuesta, Chiquimula, Guatemala La Linea, CabaĂąas, Guatemala Guaitan, San Agustin, Guatemala La Quebrada Guayasco, Guatemala
T HA N K YOU TO ALL WHO SO THOU G H TF U L LY S U B MI T T E D A N O N - PROFIT ORGANIZATION CLOS E TO YOU R H E ART.