Milestone Year Culminates in Record-Breaking Giving
January 25, 2024
A record level of philanthropy was one of the most powerful ways Merchants Bonding CompanyTM marked its 90th anniversary. In 2023, 150 separate entities benefited from the Merchants Bonding Company Foundation, totaling $511,565 in donations to support our communities, a new record for annual giving.
The primary beneficiary of the Foundation’s giving was EveryStep’s Stork’s Nest program, which provides critical items like cribs, formula, and diapers for disadvantaged new moms and babies. The 2023 Bill Warner Sr. Memorial Charity Golf Classic successfully raised over $180,000 and collected 20,000 diapers to help stock the Stork’s Nest store with necessities that can often be out of reach for struggling families.
A $90,000 donation by the Foundation not only honored Merchants’ 90th anniversary but also recognized the importance of the ongoing partnership between the construction and surety industries. Both the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Education and Research Foundation and the Surety & Fidelity Association (SFAA) Foundation received funding to support their scholarship programs.
The Foundation also gave $20,000 to the Iowa Soccer Development Foundation whose mission is to design and build a multi-use professional soccer stadium and plaza that provides opportunities for underserved at-risk youth to experience the game of soccer. Nearly 200 additional contributions were distributed in 2023 to organizations supporting children and education, community betterment, arts and culture, and medical and research. Additionally, non-profits addressing the cares and concerns of Merchants’ associates and agent partners received support through matching gift and incentive programs.
A New Focus
Turning to a new year, the 2024 focus charity selected by Merchants Bonding Company Foundation is Gigi’s Playhouse. The organization provides programming and support for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, and works to change the way the world views Down syndrome, sending a global message of acceptance for all. Merchants’ Community Outreach Council will facilitate events throughout the year to raise funds in support of arts programming through Gigi’s Playhouse. Funds will be used to transform an existing storage space in the Des Moines chapter into a functioning art studio and to stock it with supplies. Because Gigi’s Playhouse is a national network of chapters, their selection allows our associates around the country to participate by volunteering at their local level.
A History of Giving
Merchants’ Foundation was formed in 2008 in celebration of its 75th anniversary and to foster a culture of giving back. The mission of the Foundation is to provide support to non-profit organizations to improve our communities, and enrich the lives of children in the communities we serve. And the Foundation’s reach is extended further through a matching program for associates and agents, increasing the impact of their gifts to personally meaningful causes. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $3 million to charitable organizations throughout the U.S.