Giving Back

Our Rockville team volunteered with Sheppard Pratt at the annual Christmas Tree Event during 2023 #volunteer week. Sheppard Pratt runs social welfare programs in Montgomery County, MD and their Mission Statement is: To improve the quality of life of individuals and families by compassionately serving their mental health, addiction, special education, and community support needs. They team up with Christmas Tree Santas, another non-profit, that donates trees, ornaments, lights and stands to local families. Parents come with their children to pick out a tree, have some lunch and snacks, and the kids can participate in all kinds of arts and crafts projects. It’s a great event, we love seeing the families enjoying the festivities, and we always try to sneak a photo op with Santa!

During the 2023 #volunteer week, members of our Houston team delivered toys and gifts to the Houston’s Texas Children’s Hospital! Their mission is to create a healthier future for children and women throughout their global community by leading in patient care, education and research. They are proud to be consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a leader in pediatric care, and are honored to be home to the best place in the country for pediatric cardiology, heart surgery and pulmonology.

Some of us from the Rockville, MD Office volunteered at A Wider Circle, an organization whose mission is to advance equity in the greater Washington, DC region by fostering the exchange of goods, skills, and connections from neighbor to neighbor, and by engaging in advocacy to address the root causes of poverty. They take donations of all items such as clothes, household supplies, furniture, etc. and provide it to people who start anew with dignity and hope. We spent a few hours working in their warehouse with pantry donations and kitchen supplies.

In December 2023, our own Sophie Chan-Wood participated in the National Wreaths Across America Day at Savage Cemetery in Savage, MD. She and the group placed about 120 wreaths on the graves of our fallen military members buried there. #VolunteerWeek

Sophie also volunteered time and donated blood at a local American Red Cross blood drive during 2023 #volunteerweek. Their Blood Donor App even tracks when and where your donated blood is on its way to be used for a patient.

During the 2022 Holiday season,  our Houston folks teamed up with Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston & Meals on Wheels America to help get participants’ meals ready for the Holidays & give their employees a much needed break.

For Volunteer Week each year, we donate or bring awareness to important causes. In 2021, we helped out at Houston Food Bank, gave out Christmas trees at Sheppard Pratt & raised funds for New Fairfield Sherman Animal Welfare 

During 2020’s #volunteerweek, some of our team members worked w/A Wider Circle, which helps those living in poverty. We put together boxes of dishes, silverware, pots, pans & kitchen gadgets. It was eye-opening to see what items folks need, which included utensils, microwaves & toasters. If you live in the Maryland/DC area, we definitely encourage you to volunteer or donate there, it’s a great cause!

In an effort to help out a worthy cause in a more active way, our Rockville office partnered with the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) to stuff holiday stockings with needed items and goodies to donate to the homeless families residing in their shelters.

The Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with 200 food banks including the Atlanta Community Food Bank & 60,000 food pantries & meal programs. A portion of ticket sales from our The Social Shake-Up Show went to this deserving group. Learn more about this incredible organization and how you can help by visiting www.feedingamerica.org.

Houston Food Bank is a non-profit organization that works with other local charities to provide food packages and Sunday lunch to individuals and families who live below the poverty line. AI’s Houston office participated in a charity drive to benefit the cause.

The New York and Norwalk offices contributed to a World Vision USA volunteer relief effort to help those who have suffered hardship during a time of a natural catastrophe (such as Hurricane Sandy or Oklahoma tornados). Together, they packaged WorldVision hygiene kits for those who have been/might be afflicted in a time of need.

Our NY and CT employees assisted The Pajama Program – Official whom provides new pajamas and books to children in need, many who are waiting and hoping to be adopted. Employees brought a pajama or book for a child as a donation.

Donations were offered to Second Chance Wildlife Center, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Spring is an especially busy time of year, as there is an influx of baby animals that end up hurt or abandoned and in need of care.

The Rockville office participated in the 5K Oktoberfest Run to benefit the German International School, Washington D.C.

Rockville did a supply drive to benefit Mutts Matter Rescue and Animal Welfare League.

Rockville employees participated in a bake sale to benefit Children’s National Medical Center.

Our team participated in a book drive to benefit the PKD Foundation. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disease causing uncontrolled growth of cysts in the kidney eventually leading to kidney failure.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, we mobilized a food drive for Manna Food Center, who provides healthy food options for the community.

Our Rockville office partnered with the Montgomery County Guardianship Gift Program, providing gifts to less fortunate, elderly and disabled individuals in our community.

Rockville did a school supply drive for several years to benefit Linkages to Learning.

From November to Mid-December, our Houston office collected tons of toys for the Texas Children’s Hospital – West Campus. Recently, they were able to spend some time with the children, deliver toys, and spread some Holiday Cheer!

The Norwalk office gathered to create care packages for troops overseas for Support Our Troops.

Chemical Engineering Magazine has established the Nicholas Chopey Scholarship Program to assist students who plan to continue their education in college programs. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time students at one of six eligible four-year institutions.

Every two years, Chemical Engineering honors an innovative technology that has been commercialized with the Kirkpatrick Chemical Engineering Achievement Award. 

During our 3rd annual Volunteer Week we partnered with Volunteering with Sheppard Pratt at their Christmas Tree Giveaway Event in Gaithersburg, MD, a great program!

The Rockville accounting team volunteered at Montgomery Station working in the kitchen preparing lasagna, green beans, fruit salad and brownies. Montgomery Station is a Psychiatric Rehabilitation program that provides comprehensive services to adults living with serious mental illnesses to help each individual reach their full potential and achieve their goals.