As we end 2018, IA Interior Architects is thrilled to announce a year of successful fundraising in partnership with United Way. On Dec 15th, IA presented United Way with a check for $100,000, raised by each IA office in collaboration with their United Way chapter. The funds raised are dedicated to United Way’s education initiatives, which include Drive, United Way Massachusetts Bay’s early education program that screens children for developmental delays, Youth Venture, United Way Kings County’s social entrepreneurship program for kids, and Vello, United Way Valley of the Sun’s online literacy tutoring platform.
IA was proud to partner with United Way in 2018, as they are a global nonprofit organization that also has a strong network of local chapters, an important feature that allows all of the firm’s offices to participate equally. United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. They believe that we rise or fall together, and create positive and permanent change by forging unlikely partnerships, finding new solutions to old problems, and mobilizing the best resources.
“We are so absolutely thrilled to have partnered with United Way on this global initiative. Initiating parallel efforts in 21 offices with 21 partners is not an easy task to undertake. United Way created a roadmap and a giving campaign that enabled IA to come together as one to support education for children around the world,” shares Reetika Vijay, Managing Principal of IA’s Boston office and IA Reach Corporate Sponsor.
IA’s philanthropic group, IA Reach, spearheaded the partnership, which kicked off 2018 with a firm-wide literacy kit effort; all of the offices combined created 748 literacy kits that were delivered to local schools. Through the creation of these literacy kits, IA focused on providing third graders with the tools to support their educational goal of reading on a third grade level. Rounding out the year, each IA office took part in their own fundraising initiatives; these included events such as a game night in IA’s Silicon Valley office, a yoga class in IA’s Boston office, and an 80’s themed party in IA’s New York office.
“United Way loved partnering with IA Interior Architects on a Lunch & Learn, educating employees on the challenges families and individuals face in our city, and even built 20 Literacy kits for students,” shares Brian Cataldo, a United Way local chapter representative.
“IA’s mission has always been to further our commitment to people and culture, so partnering with United Way was a great fit for us. The global organization has a fantastic network and pioneers meaningful education initiatives. We look forward expanding our efforts in 2019,” shares Tom Powers and David Bourke, IA’s Co-CEOs/Presidents