On December 3, Westfield Insurance showcased the spirit of giving during their annual Technology Leadership Team meeting. Executives set aside their afternoon to give back to their community, inviting ODA and three other local nonprofits to join the event and share their missions.
The highlight of the afternoon was a series of hands-on activities tailored to support each organization. For ODA, Westfield executives came together to fill 27 large bags with household essentials and decorate dozens of reusable cloth grocery bags. All the items were purchased and donated by Westfield, ensuring ODA’s family pantry is stocked with much-needed supplies for the families it serves.
ODA was included in this meaningful initiative thanks to the passion of board member and Westfield Insurance Chief Information Officer, Tracey Petkovic. “What Open Doors Academy does is close to the heart for me,” Tracey shared. “I have a 15-year-old daughter, and I wanted to serve my community through an organization that helps kids. I see the impact ODA has on kids my daughter's age and younger, so it's important to me to include ODA in our charitable causes. Giving back to the community is really important to Westfield, and it’s why we take the time as a team to do this every year.”
This event was organized by Kerri Harris, Project Management Leader at Westfield, who has been at the helm of this effort for several years. As she prepares to retire, Kerri is happy to know her teammates will carry on this annual tradition. “At the end of the day, your heart is full. It’s important. That’s why we take time to give back, and why we are all happy to do it here at Westfield,” she said.
The event not only demonstrated Westfield’s dedication to their community but also highlighted the collective impact corporate partnerships have on ODA. In just a few hours, our Haven House Pantry was fully stocked with essentials for families who need them and prepared for swift distribution. Executives at the meeting who were previously unfamiliar with ODA later reached out, eager to contribute their time. We are grateful for this generosity.
If you are interested in partnering with us and making a meaningful difference in your community, please reach out to Joe Hollings at jhollings@odacle.org. Together, we can continue to protect, inspire, nurture, and challenge our youth to reach their full potential.
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This article is a part of the January 2025 PINC Newsletter. To read more articles from this newsletter, click here or the button below.
