Amid a busy unwinding of another extraordinary year, Chartwell is reminded of our common charge to help each other freely. We closed 2023 with several notable initiatives aimed at building connections, strengthening community, highlighting interdependence, and – in keeping with our charitable mission – helping to make the world a better place to live.
Expanding Access to the Benefits of Employee Ownership
Chartwell celebrated Employee Ownership Month this October by staying active to raise funds for the Employee Ownership Foundation. Nearly 40 individuals participated by walking, running, and biking. Chartwell pledged money for every mile logged, with bonus money applied to those joining in on 5K races held in cities with Chartwell offices. All told, Team Chartwell logged nearly 2,000 total miles and raised over $6,500 to support employee ownership.
Fighting an “Unsettling” Drop in Life Expectancy for Men
Following a recent decline in life expectancy for men that The New York Times calls “unsettling,” the life expectancy gap between men and women reached its widest in nearly three decades, driven mainly by more men dying of Covid and drug overdoses. In support of the fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, partners, families, and friends in our lives, Chartwell teamed up with the Movember Foundation to raise money for, and awareness of, a number of different men’s health issues. Team Chartwell’s moustache and beard competitors, along with those who opted to “Move for Mental Health” by taking steps for the cause, raised more than $6,000 in 2023 alone. In our six years of support for the Movember Foundation, Chartwell has raised nearly $30,000 to help tackle some of the most significant health issues faced by men.
Spreading a Little Joy
Once again this year, our “Sponsor a Family” initiative was an important part of Chartwell’s Giving Back Campaign. Focused on contributing to the overall well-being of our greater communities, each of our office locations selected an organization to partner with and collectively committed nearly $7,600 to our sponsored families.
Through Youthprise, a nonprofit with a mission to increase equity with and for disadvantaged youth, Chartwell Minneapolis connected with two families facing financial hardship and purchased gifts along with basic necessities. Chartwell Chicago supported Project 180, which offers occupational therapy, financial assistance, psychological counseling, and recreational therapy in group residential homes to individuals with little to no resources. Chartwell Dallas shopped for Soldiers’ Angels to help send holiday cheer to military families.
On the West Coast, Chartwell Portland purchased gifts for a local family through the Christmas Family Adoption Foundation, a nonprofit focused on making the holiday season a time for joy and celebration for families in need. Meanwhile, Chartwell Orange County donated gifts through the Orange County Family Justice Center, which provides assistance, empowerment, and prevention resources to victims and families whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence and abuse.
Finally, on the East Coast, Chartwell Raleigh donated funds to The Bair Foundation, a nonprofit that supports children and families throughout the foster care and adoption processes. Chartwell Philadelphia supported HopePHL, an organization with the mission to inspire children, youth, families, and communities to thrive by providing housing, advocacy, and trauma-responsive social services designed to promote equity, resilience, autonomy, and well-being.
Positive Impact Spinning
In December, some select energetic teammates participated in a Chartwell-organized Spinathon to raise funds for the JP4 Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to enrich the lives of youth in underserved communities through healthy activity, healthy meals, and healthy relationships. Chartwell pledged $5 per mile over the course of an hour, and in a showcase of endurance, commitment, and generosity, we raised $1,000 for this great cause.
Pickleball for a Purpose
Chartwell’s pickleball tournament also saw enthusiastic participation! In addition to the fun, the lively competition, and the displays of some serious game, the day of pickleball served to encourage individual giving and to support causes personally meaningful to our colleagues. A Chartwell pickleball champion was crowned, and $1,750 was donated to various charities nominated by our teammates, including Coco’s Dog Heart Rescue, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities.
Feeding Starving Children
To close out Chartwell’s Giving Back Campaign, we spent an afternoon at Feed My Starving Children for a meal-packing event. The volunteer room during this holiday season was jam-packed with familiar faces as well as new ones in the community, where the entire group beat FMSC’s standing record of most boxes packed in a single session – 251 boxes! That comes out to enough boxes of soy-veggie meals to feed 149 children across the globe for an entire year.
Chartwell’s Giving Back Campaign this year results in nearly $23,000 donated!
As a relationship-based firm focused on the long-term success of our clients, Chartwell recognizes the importance of giving back to our communities. Our entire team is dedicated to upholding this value. In addition to our corporate charity events, every Chartwell professional is encouraged to support causes and dedicate time to the charitable organizations they are passionate about.