2020 Foundation Highlights
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Financial Gifts to 91 Organizations
Academy Prep Foundation
Accounting & Financial Women's Alliance Foundation
AGC of Iowa Foundation
AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport
American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
Arizona State University Foundation
Arkansas Foodbank
Be The Match Foundation
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City
Black Lives Matter Help US
Bravo Greater Des Moines
Cedar Falls Schools Foundation
Children & Families of Iowa
Children's Cancer Connection
Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
Courage League Sports
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Des Moines Area Community College
Des Moines Community Playhouse
Des Moines Metro Opera
Des Moines Performing Arts
Des Moines Public School Foundation
Des Moines Symphony
Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation
Easterseals Iowa
EveryStep Foundation
Family Cancer Network
Food Bank of Iowa
Forever Home Dog Rescue
Fort Worth Education/Julie Rowe Educational Fund
Gilda's Club of the Quad Cities
Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa
Give Grace Give Hope
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Grimes Storehouse
Hanaeleh Horse Rescue
Hoag Charity Sports
Hope Ministries
Idaho Foodbank
IMA Foundation
International Fellowship of Christians & Jews
Iowa Center for Economic Success
Iowa College Foundation
Iowa County Fair
Iowa PBS Foundation
Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation
Iowa State University Foundation
Kids in Need Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Madrid Bunch
Make-A-Wish
Mary Bridge Children's Foundation
Meals from the Heartland
Melanoma Research Foundation
Mid-Iowa Council, Boy Scouts of America
Mission Haiti
Montana Food Bank Network
National Alliance on Mental Illness - Iowa
No Kid Hungry
North Texas Food Bank
Opportunity on Deck
Orchard Place
Oregon Food Bank
Partners 4 Global Health
Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation
Pinky Swear Foundation
Principal Charity Classic
Quad City Arts
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
Ronald McDonald House
Single Parent Provision
Special Olympics
St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church
Surety Foundation
TeamMates Foundation
The Jed Foundation
United Way
UnityPoint Health/Blank Children's Hospital
UnityPoint Hospice - Taylor House
University of Iowa Foundation
University of Texas
Variety - the Children's Charity
Waukee Area Christian Services
West Seattle Food Bank
Women's Barbell Classic
YMCA of Greater Des Moines
Youth Homes of Mid-America
Youth With A Mission San Diego/Baja
24 Matching Gifts Totaling $6,135
(58% increase in matching gifts over 2019)
The Foundation matches eligible associates’ donations of at least $25, up to $400 per year.
United Way Campaign
95 %
of campaign participants increased their pledges or were first-time donors
$ 56,025.65
campaign total
260.5 Service Hours to 20 Organizations
All eligible associates can take 7.5 hours of paid volunteer time off (VTO) each year to participate in community service activities of their choice. In addition, the Community Outreach Council (COC) hosts special service projects for associates throughout the year.
- AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport
- Amanda The Panda
- American Model United Nations
- Children and Family Urban Movement
- Court Appointed Special Advocates
- Des Moines Christian School
- Easterseals Iowa
- EveryStep Care & Support Services
- Habitat for Humanity
- Kiya Koda Humane Society
- Meals from the Heartland
- Ruby for Good
- Single Parent Provision
- Soteria Des Moines
- St. Vincent de Paul
- United Way of Central Iowa
- Variety – the Children’s Charity
- Watch D.O.G.S
- Waukee Area Christian Services
- Woodland Cemetery Monument Restoration
Community Outreach Council
15 Associate Members
The Community Outreach Council (COC) is comprised of associate members who encourage and facilitate financial giving and volunteer efforts within our community.
82 Cookbooks Sold
The COC’s signature fundraiser featured a collection of more than 50 favorite recipes from associates.
$4,000 Raised for the Food Bank of Iowa
Check Presentation
Addressing Food Insecurity
As food insecurity increased with the pandemic, the Foundation redirected fundraising efforts to food banks and organizations working in the fight against hunger.
$ 16,660
to food banks in 8 states
291 lbs
collected for the Food Bank of Iowa
Shining Star Award
"Michael’s dedication, leadership and willingness to help where it is needed in our community is unmatched."
- Kayli Becker, Development Director, American Heart Association
Contract Underwriter Michael Vigen was selected as Merchants Bonding Company’s 2020 Shining Star for his involvement with the American Heart Association (AHA). Michael dedicated his time to be a Heart Walk Coach in the AHA Young Professionals Group and started a team for CycleNation, an event held every October to raise awareness of AHA’s mission. As a Heart Walk Coach and team leader for CycleNation, he worked to motivate a team of individuals to spread the word about cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Commercial Underwriting Associate Jeanne Schulte and Commercial Underwriting Assistant Hannah Burton were both recognized as Shining Star runners-up. Jeanne was selected for her work making masks for Easterseals Iowa and MaskHelpers.org. Jeanne made hundreds of masks in 2020 and her responsiveness made a big difference for many. As a volunteer for Forever Home Dog Rescue, Hannah transports, fosters and finds homes for dogs who have limited time left in shelters or are having trouble getting adopted. With the need increasing during the pandemic, Hannah fostered eight dogs and worked to find them their forever homes.
Merchants’ annual Shining Star Award honors associates who are getting involved and giving back to their community. Nominations are reviewed and winners selected by Merchants’ Executive Committee.
We Support Our Communities
Habitat for Humanity
Holiday Gift Giving
Virtual BINGO
Recipe Book Sale
Drive-through Food Drive
Drive-through Food Drive
United Way Stuff the Bus
Festival of Trees & Lights
Festival of Trees & Lights
COC Food Day
COC Food Day
COC Trivia
COC Trivia
Variety Telethon
Opportunity on Deck Game for Good
National Philanthropy Day
Variety’s Golf FORE the Kids!
Courage League
Bowl for Kids’ Sake
Girl Scouts Cookie Relief Fund
Any maskless photos were taken prior to COVID-19 Pandemic regulations or proper precautions were taken.
Setting Our Sights on 2021
Vision to Learn Selected as 2021 Charity Beneficiary
The Merchants Bonding Company Foundation has selected Vision to Learn as its primary beneficiary for 2021. A partnership of United Way of Central Iowa and Variety – the Children’s Charity, Vision To Learn seeks to give every child a chance to succeed in school and in life by bringing mobile clinics and trained eye care professionals directly to schools and community organizations.
Funds raised by Merchants’ Community Outreach Council and the 2021 Bill Warner Sr. Memorial Charity Golf Classic* will go toward bringing eye care services and glasses directly to students who would not otherwise receive quality vision care.
*The biennial Bill Warner Sr. Memorial Charity Golf Classic was originally scheduled for September 2020 and rescheduled to September 2021 due to the pandemic.