Our team takes pride volunteering within our many communities. Whether sorting donations, raking leaves, packing meals or teaching students about linework, we strive to support our neighbors. These opportunities become more special when our team can have a “roarsome” time while we serve.
For over 30 years, volunteers from local organizations have participated in the United Way of Allen County’s Day of Caring. In 2023, staff worked through high heat and humidity to complete projects at a downtown park and area food bank. This year, fall-like weather was the highlight of the day along with some “wild” supervisors ensuring the jobs were done right.
Staff completed projects as part of the United Way of Allen County's Day of Caring at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo.
Pairing for the first time with the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, our “down and dirty” team kept busy with landscaping and mulching projects throughout the zoo. Also completed were painting projects, path cleaning and work on the zoo’s beloved carousel. A second I&M group covered lighter projects including inventorying signs and event decor with zoo staff members, writing thank you notes to donors, helping reorganize storage areas and inventory items. In total, over 60 members of our team volunteered as part of the Day of Caring.
Before our team jumped into these projects, the United Way of Allen County hosted the day’s participants for a kick-off breakfast and award ceremony. For work completed in 2023-24, I&M received the United Way of Allen County’s highest recognition: the Spirit of Giving award. This award recognizes a company that exemplifies what it means to LIVE UNITED through consistently giving back to the community and fostering an environment of philanthropy. Also honored during this time, External Affairs coordinator, Tyna Reiter, was named the United Way of Allen County’s Outstanding Employee Campaign Coordinator. In its first year, this award recognizes the dedication and effort put into running a successful United Way Campaign.
I&M was awarded the United Way of Allen County's Spirit of Giving award.
At its completion, over 1,300 volunteers dedicated their time to assisting the community through over 70 different projects throughout the Fort Wayne area during the Day of Caring. The work completed benefited local nonprofit agencies, organizations, schools and more. Visit our community page for more information on how I&M is supporting our local communities and how staff are making a difference through volunteering for their neighbors.