Partners for a Cause

When times are tough and budgets are tight, corporate giving is usually one of the first line items hacked from the list. Companies are hard-pressed to stay afloat and stay profitable, causing the time and energy to volunteer for or even organize charitable giving to dwindle away to non-existence.

But that’s not the case for everyone. Many agents, master agents and carriers in the indirect channel are tapping into their giving spirit more than ever. Here are a few snapshots of some of their philanthropic activities.

Snapshot: ADVODA

Marines deliberate and inspect team purchases at ADVODA’s Toys for Tots drive.

Every year, Denver-based master agency ADVODA sponsors a Toys for Tots event in concert with the U.S. Marines. ADVODA founder and owner Ron Dunworth solicits support from the company’s suppliers and puts up some of his own money to support Toys for Tots. Last season’s participating suppliers included Integra Telecom, Lightyear Network Solutions, Level 3 Communications, PAETEC, Qwest Communications International Inc. and TMC Communications. Participants were assigned to teams and given a handful of cash, a list and two hours to go out and buy toys. Upon returning to ADVODA’s offices, each team displayed their purchases and enjoyed dinner and drinks and good-natured ribbing about who did the best job.

Representatives from the U.S. Marines served as judges, and cash awards were up for grabs for the top two teams. In the end, it was a five-way tie and all cash prizes were immediately deposited into the Toys for Tots cash jar. More than $4,000 in toys were donated, plus a significant amount of cash in the collection jar.

TMC Communications’ Ron Ireland (center) poses for the camera with ADVODA Partner Hilary Fox and Senior Partner Ron Dunworth.

"Our third annual ADVODA Toys 4 Tots event was a great success. Thanks to our vendors for providing financial support and to everyone — ADVODA employees, vendors and associates — tasked with spending the money,” said Dunworth. “Through their combined efforts we were able to contribute over 400 individual Toys to the Marine Corps Toys 4 Tots campaign. We all had a great time working together to ensure that a large number of needy kids in Colorado [had] something under the tree on Christmas morning."